Acupunct Electrother Res. 2001 ; 26(1-2): 25-37.

Transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS): the effect of electrode placement upon cutaneous blood flow and skin temperature.

Cramp AF, Noble JG, Lowe AS, Walsh DM.

Rehabilitation Sciences Research Group, School of Health Sciences, University of Ulster at Jordanstown, Newtownabbey, Northern Ireland. [email protected]

In the current study the effect of electrode placement on cutaneous blood flow and skin temperature were assessed using laser Doppler flowmetry. Following approval from the University's ethical committee, 30 subjects were recruited (15 male: 15 female) and randomly assigned to a control or one of two treatment groups (n=10 all groups). TENS was applied either over the median nerve or to the Hegyu acupuncture point (L.I.4) for 15 minutes. Blood flow and skin temperature data were recorded during TENS and for 15 minutes post TENS. Analysis of results showed significant differences between groups for cutaneous blood flow (p=0.0001; repeated measures ANOVA). There was a significant increase in blood flow in the TENS median nerve group compared with the other two groups during TENS application. No significant changes in skin temperature were observed between groups. This study demonstrates that the effect of TENS upon cutaneous blood flow is dependent upon electrode placement sites.