| Autor: |
Espejo-Antúnez L; Department of Medical-Surgical Therapeutics, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Extremadura, Av. Elvas, s/n, 06006 Badajoz, Spain., Fernández-Morales C; Department of Medical-Surgical Therapeutics, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Extremadura, Av. Elvas, s/n, 06006 Badajoz, Spain., Cardero-Durán MLÁ; Department of Medical-Surgical Therapeutics, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Extremadura, Av. Elvas, s/n, 06006 Badajoz, Spain.; Healthcare Center Puente Real II, Av. Federico Mayor Zaragoza, s/n, 06006 Badajoz, Spain., Toledo-Marhuenda JV; Clinic Medicine Department, University of Miguel Hernández, Avda, De la Universidad, s/n, Elche, 03202 Alicante, Spain., Díaz-Mancha JA; Department of Physical Therapy, Faculty of Nursing, Physical Therapy and Podiatry, University of Seville, C/Avicena, 6, 41009 Seville, Spain., Albornoz-Cabello M; Department of Physical Therapy, Faculty of Nursing, Physical Therapy and Podiatry, University of Seville, C/Avicena, 6, 41009 Seville, Spain. |
| Abstrakt: |
Interferential current therapy (ICT) is an electrotherapeutic intervention that combines the advantages of high permeability from middle frequency currents and efficient tissue stimulation from low frequency currents, delivering the maximum current with high tissue permeability. The aim was to evaluate the effects of ICT on heart rate variability (HRV) and on pain perception in patients with non-specific chronic low back pain (NSCLBP). In the study, 49 patients with NSCLBP were randomly divided into an experimental (EG) and a sham group (SG). All participants received a single intervention, ICT, or simulated intervention. Outcome measures including baseline (sit-down position) and postintervention (prone position) pain, heart rate (HR), time domain parameter (rMSSD), diameters of the Poincaré plot (SD1, SD2), stress score (SS), and sympathetic/parasympathetic (S/PS) ratio were investigated. In both groups, significant statistical differences were found in perceived pain and in all HRV parameters except in HRmax. Between-group comparisons showed statistically significant differences in all variables except for HRmin and HRmean in favor of the experimental group. These changes reported an increase in parasympathetic activity (rMSSD) ( p < 0.05) and a decrease in sympathetic activity (increase in SD2 and decrease in SS) ( p < 0.001) and perceived pain ( p < 0.001), with a greater size effect (η2 = 0.44) in favor of the experimental group. In conclusion, a single session of ICT can shift the autonomic balance towards increase parasympathetic dominance and decrease the sympathetic dominance and intensity of pain perceived by patients with NSCLBP. |
