Abstract

The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation(TENS) and He-Ne laser at auricular point on delayed onset muscle soreness(DOMS). Twenty healthy adult males and females performed eccentric exercise of the elbow flexor. DOMS was induced in a standardised fashion in the nondominant elbow flexor of all subject by repeated eccentric exercise. Subject were assigned randomly to one of trees groups. Group 1 received TENS to the appropriate auricular point for biceps pain, Group 2 received laser to the appropriate auricular point for wrist pain, Group 3 received no treatment and served as controls. After exercise, treatments were applied at 24 hours and at 48 hours and at 72 hours after. Group 1 showed stastically significant increase(p<0.05) in pain threshold after treatment whereas the Group 2 and 3 did not. Group 1 showed a significant increase in pain threshold than Group 2. These results suggest that TENS has the capability to higher pain threshold but laser does not.

Keywords

• Transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation(TENS);
• Delayed onset muscle soreness(DOMS);
• Laser;
• Auricular point