Juliana Barbosa Corrêa

Effects of the carrier frequency of interferential current on pain modulation in patients with chronic nonspecific low back pain: a protocol of a randomised controlled trial

BackgroundLow back pain is an important public health problem that is associated with poor quality of life and disability. Among the electrophysical treatments, interferential current (IFC) has not been studied in patients with low back pain in a high-quality randomised controlled trial examining not only pain, but pain mechanisms and function.Methods/designA three-arm randomised controlled trial with patient and assessor blinded to the group allocation. One hundred fifty patients with chronic, nonspecific low back pain from outpatient physical therapy clinics in Brazil. The patients will be randomly allocated into 3 groups (IFC 1 kHz, IFC 4 kHz or Placebo IFC). The interferential current will be applied three days per week (30 minutes per session) over four weeks. Primary outcome: Pain intensity. Secondary outcomes: The pressure pain threshold, global impression of recovery, disability, function, conditioned pain modulation and temporal summation of pain, discomfort caused by the current. All outcomes will be measured at 4 weeks and 4 months after randomisation. The between-group differences will be calculated by using linear mixed models and Tukey’s post-hoc tests.DiscussionThe use of a placebo group and double-blinding assessor and patients strengthen this study. The present study is the first to compare different IFC carrier frequencies in patients with chronic low back pain.Trial registrationBrazilian Registry of Clinical Trials: http://RBR-8n4hg2

The Effect of Burst-Duty-Cycle Parameters of Medium-Frequency Alternating Current on Maximum Electrically Induced Torque of the Quadriceps Femoris, Discomfort, and Tolerated Current Amplitude in Professional Soccer Players

STUDY DESIGN Repeated-measures, within-subject crossover trial. OBJECTIVES The primary objective was to assess the effect of the burst-duty-cycle parameters of medium-frequency alternating current on the maximum electrically induced torque of the quadriceps femoris. The secondary objectives were to evaluate the amount of discomfort tolerated and the maximum current amplitude delivered for each electrical-stimulation condition. BACKGROUND Neuromuscular electrical stimulation used for muscle strengthening can improve functional performance. However, the electrical-stimulation parameters to achieve optimal outcomes are still unknown. Previous studies have demonstrated that the characteristics of the burst duty cycle of medium-frequency alternating current influence torque-generation levels and perception of sensory discomfort. METHODS The maximum electrically induced torque was assessed with a medium-frequency alternating current, with a carrier frequency of 2500 Hz and a modulated frequency of 50 Hz. The current amplitude was gradually increased to the point of the participants maximum tolerance level. The testing sequence for the 3 burst duty cycles (20%, 35%, and 50%) was performed in a randomized order. RESULTS Electrical stimulation using a 20% burst duty cycle produced an electrically induced torque greater than the 35% (P = .01) and 50% (P<.01) burst duty cycles, with no difference between the 35% and 50% burst duty cycles (P = .46). There was no difference in the amount of sensory discomfort produced by the 3 durations of burst duty cycles (P = .34). There was also no difference between the 3 conditions for the maximum current amplitude tolerated (P = .62). CONCLUSION The burst duty cycle of 20% of medium-frequency alternating current, compared to burst duty cycles of 35% and 50%, produced higher peak torque of the quadriceps femoris in professional soccer players. There was no difference in discomfort produced and current amplitude tolerated between the different burst-duty-cycle conditions.

Capsaicin on the viability of random-pattern skin flaps in rats

PURPOSE To evaluate the effects of capsaicin on the viability of ischemic random-pattern skin flaps in rats. METHODS Forty EPM1-Wistar rats were randomized into two groups of 20 animals each, the capsaicin group and the control group. A random-pattern skin flap measuring 10 x 4 cm was raised and a plastic barrier was placed between the flap and the donor site. After the surgical procedure, the control group was treated with an inert vehicle in the form of a cream applied uniformly to a rayon bandage which, in turn, was applied to the surface of the skin flap. The capsaicin group was treated in the same way, but in this case capsaicin was added to the cream. This procedure was repeated for two consecutive days. RESULTS There was a significantly smaller amount of flap necrosis in the capsaicin group (35.07%) than in the control group (44.75%) (p=0.035). CONCLUSION Topical administration of capsaicin improved the viability of ischemic random-pattern skin flaps in rats.

Effects of the carrier frequency of interferential current on pain modulation and central hypersensitivity in people with chronic nonspecific low back pain: A randomized placebo-controlled trial.

Interferential current (IFC) is commonly used for pain relief, but the effects of carrier frequency of the current and its action on pain mechanisms remain unclear. This randomized placebo‐controlled trial tested the effects of IFC in people with chronic nonspecific low back pain.

Estimulação elétrica funcional na subluxação crônica do ombro após acidente vascular encefálico: relato de casos

A subluxacao do ombro e comum em individuos que sofreram acidente vascular encefalico (AVE), podendo gerar dor, lesoes do plexo braquial, capsulite adesiva e lesoes nos musculos da bainha rotatoria, implicando atraso da reabilitacao e interferencia na qualidade de vida. O objetivo deste estudo foi verificar os efeitos da estimulacao eletrica funcional (EEF) na subluxacao cronica do ombro em pacientes hemiplegicos que sofreram AVE. Foram avaliados tres pacientes tendo tido AVE ha mais de um ano com subluxacao do ombro confirmada por exame de raios X. Foram analisados, antes e apos o tratamento, o grau de subluxacao e amplitude de movimento (ADM) do ombro, funcao sensorio-motora pela escala de Fugl-Meyer e dor em repouso e a movimentacao passiva por meio de escala visual analogica. Todos os pacientes foram submetidos a tratamento com fisioterapia convencional e EEF no membro hemiplegico por dez sessoes. A analise dos resultados mostrou melhora em relacao as medidas iniciais da ADM, da avaliacao sensorio-motora, dor e subluxacao do ombro apos o uso da EEF. Concluiu-se que a EEF, asociada a fisioterapia convencional, mostrou-se eficaz em produzir diminuicao da subluxacao, aumento da funcao do membro superior e agir no alivio da dor em pacientes com subluxacao do ombro pos-AVE.