Article

OBJECTIVES: To examine the effect of experimental knee pain on perceived knee
pain and gait patterns and to examine the efficacy of transcutaneous electrical
nerve stimulation (TENS) on perceived knee pain and pain-induced knee gait
mechanics. DESIGN: Crossover trial. SETTING: Biomechanics laboratory.
PARTICIPANTS: Recreationally active, individuals without musculoskeletal pain
aged 18 to 35 years (N=30). INTERVENTIONS: Thirty able-bodied individuals were
assigned to either a TENS (n=15) or a placebo (n=15) group. All participants
completed 3 experimental sessions in a counterbalanced order separated by 2 days:
(1) hypertonic saline infusion (5% NaCl); (2) isotonic saline infusion (0.9%
NaCl); and (3) control. Each group received sensory electrical stimulation or
placebo treatment for 20 minutes, respectively. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Perceived
pain was collected every 2 minutes using a 10-cm visual analog scale (VAS) for 50
minutes and analyzed using a mixed model analysis of covariance with repeated
measures. Gait analyses were performed at baseline, infusion, and treatment.
Sagittal and frontal knee angles and internal net joint torque across the entire
stance were analyzed using a functional data analysis approach. RESULTS:
Hypertonic saline infusion increased perceived pain (4/10cm on a VAS; P<.05) and
altered right knee angle (more flexion and less abduction; P<.05) and internal
net joint torque (less extension and greater abduction; P<.05) across various
stance phases. TENS treatment reduced perceived pain and improved right sagittal
gait abnormalities as compared with placebo treatment (P<.05). CONCLUSIONS: This
pain model increases perceived pain and induces compensatory gait patterns in a
way that indicates potential quadriceps weakness. However, TENS treatment
effectively reduces perceived pain and restores pain-induced gait abnormalities
in sagittal knee mechanics.
CI - Copyright (c) 2016 American Congress of Rehabilitation Medicine. Published by
Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Langue : ANGLAIS