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Interferential Therapy Produces Antinociception During Application in Various Models of Inflammatory Pain

S Jorge, PT, MSc, is Physical Therapist and was a student in the Master’s Degree Program, Department of Physiology, Faculty of Dentistry, University of Campinas, Piracicaba, São Paulo, Brazil. This work was conducted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for Mr Jorge’s master’s thesis at the University of Campinas
CA Parada, DDS, PhD, is Pharmacologist and Assistant Professor, Department of Pharmacology, Faculty of Medicine, University of São Paulo, Ribeirão Preto, São Paulo, Brazil
SH Ferreira, MD, PhD, is Pharmacologist and Professor, Department of Pharmacology, Faculty of Medicine, University of São Paulo
CH Tambeli, DDS, PhD, is Physiologist and Associate Professor, Department of Physiology, Faculty of Dentistry, University of Campinas, Piracicaba, São Paulo, Brazil

(tambeli{at}fop.unicamp.br). Address all correspondence to Dr Tambeli

Background and Purpose. Although interferential therapy (IFT) is used widely in the management of many painful conditions, the effectiveness and the mechanism of action of IFT in animal models of inflammatory pain have not been evaluated. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of IFT in reducing inflammatory pain and edema in rats. Subjects. Sixty-nine male Wistar rats were used in the study. Methods. The effect of IFT application (4,000-Hz carrier frequency, 140-Hz amplitude-modulated beat frequency, pulse duration=125 milliseconds, current intensity=5 mA) for 1 hour on the formalin-induced nociceptive response and edema and on carrageenan-induced mechanical hyperalgesia and edema was evaluated. Results. Interferential therapy significantly reduced the formalin-evoked nociceptive response when applied to the paw immediately after but not before the formalin injection. Interferential therapy application at 2 hours after the carrageenan injection significantly prevented a further increase in carrageenan-induced mechanical hyperalgesia only immediately after discontinuation of the electrical current application. The antinociception induced by IFT was not attributable to a reduction in inflammation because IFT did not significantly reduce the edema induced by either formalin or carrageenan. Discussion and Conclusion. The results suggest that, despite its short-duration effect, IFT is effective in reducing inflammatory pain and should be considered primarily for use in the control of acute inflammatory pain. [Jorge S, Parada CA, Ferreira SH, Tambeli CH. Interferential therapy produces antinociception during application in various models of inflammatory pain. Phys Ther. 2006;86:800–808.]

Key Words: Carrageenan • Formalin • Inflammatory pain • Interferential therapy