Soleus H-reflex modulation following transcutaneous high- and low-frequency spinal stimulation in healthy volunteers.

Abstract

The main aim of this work was to investigate the difference in the excitability of the soleus H-reflex in healthy volunteers following spinal transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) and high-frequency alternating current (HFAC) at a frequency of 10\u202fkHz applied at the lower thoracic spinal level (T10-T12). A double-blind, randomized, crossover, controlled clinical trial was designed. Participants received three randomized interventions (TENS, 10\u202fkHz, and sham stimulation) during 40\u202fmin. The amplitude and latency of the soleus H-reflex were registered prior to, during, and 10\u202fmin following stimulation. Twenty-four participants completed the study. A significant inhibition of H-reflex amplitude was observed following transcutaneous spinal TENS (12.7%; 95% CI 1.5-22.2%) when compared with sham stimulation (5.5%; 95% CI 3.6-14.5%; p\u202f=\u202f0.03). An increase in H-reflex latency was also observed following transcutaneous spinal stimulation at 10\u202fkHz (2%; 95% CI 1.4-2.5%) as compared with sham stimulation (0.7%; 95% CI 0.07-1.3%; p\u202f<\u202f0.01). No differences were found between TENS and 10\u202fkHz for H-reflex modulation. Transcutaneous spinal TENS and HFAC at a frequency of 10\u202fkHz had a modulatory effect on the soleus H-reflex when compared to sham stimulation; however, no differences were found between these two interventions.