Interferential therapy effect on mechanical pain threshold and isometric torque after delayed onset muscle soreness induction in human hamstrings

• Published in: Journal of sports sciences 2012-04, Vol.30 (8), p.733-742
• Main Authors: Rocha, Clarice S., Lanferdini, Fábio J., Kolberg, Carolina, Silva, Marcelo F., Vaz, Marco A., Partata, Wania A., Zaro, Milton A.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adolescent; Adult; Biological and medical sciences; delayed onset muscle soreness; eccentric exercise; Electric Stimulation Therapy; Exercise; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Humans; interferential current; Isometric Contraction - physiology; isometric peak torque; Male; mechanical pain threshold; Muscle, Skeletal - physiology; Muscular system; Pain; Pain Management; Pain Threshold - physiology; Studies; Thigh - physiology; Torque; Vertebrates: body movement. Posture. Locomotion. Flight. Swimming. Physical exercise. Rest. Sports; Young Adult
• ISSN: 0264-0414; 1466-447X
• DOI: 10.1080/02640414.2012.672025

This study was undertaken to examine the acute effect of interferential current on mechanical pain threshold and isometric peak torque after delayed onset muscle soreness induction in human hamstrings. Forty-one physically active healthy male volunteers aged 18−33 years were randomly assigned to one of two experimental groups: interferential current group (n = 21) or placebo group (n = 20). Both groups performed a bout of 100 isokinetic eccentric maximal voluntary contractions (10 sets of 10 repetitions) at an angular velocity of 1.05 rad · s −1 (60° · s −1 ) to induce muscle soreness. On the next day, volunteers received either an interferential current or a placebo application. Treatment was applied for 30 minutes (4 kHz frequency; 125 μs pulse duration; 80−150 Hz bursts). Mechanical pain threshold and isometric peak torque were measured at four different time intervals: prior to induction of muscle soreness, immediately following muscle soreness induction, on the next day after muscle soreness induction, and immediately after the interferential current and placebo application. Both groups showed a reduction in isometric torque (P