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Blood Flow Changes in the Trapezius Muscle and Overlying Skin Following Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation

ML Sandberg, PT, PhD, is Researcher and Lecturer, Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, and Pain and Rehabilitation Centre, University Hospital, S-581 85 Linköping, Sweden.
MK Sandberg and J Dahl were students in the Physiotherapy Program, Faculty of Health Sciences, Linköping University, Linkoö Sweden, at the time of this study.

margareta.sandberg{at}lio.se

Background and Purpose: Various researchers have studied the effects of transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) on hemodynamics. The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of TENS on local blood flow in the trapezius muscle and overlying skin.

Subjects: Thirty-three women who were healthy, aged 25 to 55 years, were randomly assigned to receive 1 of 3 different modes of TENS.

Methods: Skin and muscle blood flow were monitored noninvasively using a new application of photoplethysmography for 15 minutes of TENS applied at high frequency (80 Hz) and sensory-level intensity and at low frequency (2 Hz) and motor-level intensity and for 15 minutes after stimulation. Subliminal 80-Hz TENS was used as a control. Blood flow was monitored simultaneously on stimulated and nonstimulated shoulders.

Results: Blood flow in the trapezius muscle, but not skin blood flow, increased significantly with motor-level 2-Hz TENS, whereas no increase occurred with sensory-level 80-Hz TENS or subliminal 80-Hz TENS.

Discussion and Conclusion: Muscle contractions induced by motor-level 2-Hz TENS appear to be a prerequisite for increasing blood flow in the trapezius muscle. However, high stimulation intensity may prevent increased blood flow in the overlying skin.