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Effect of helium neon laser auriculotherapy on experimental pain
threshold.
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King CE, Clelland JA, Knowles CJ, Jackson JR
Phys Ther 1990 Jan;70(1):24-30
This study was conducted to examine the effects of helium-neon laser
auriculotherapy on experimental pain threshold. Eighty healthy female and
male subjects, aged 18 to 39 years, were assigned randomly to one of two
treatment groups. Subjects in the Experimental Group (n = 41) received laser
stimulation, and subjects in the Control Group (n = 39) received sham
stimulation to appropriate acupuncture points on the left ear. Experimental
pain threshold at the ipsilateral wrist was determined with an electrical
stimulus immediately before and after treatment. The mean change (posttreatment
minus pretreatment) for the Experimental Group was greater than the mean
change for the Control Group (p less than .05). The Experimental Group
demonstrated a statistically significant (p less than .05) increase in mean
pain threshold after treatment, but the Control Group did not. Results
indicate that helium-neon laser auriculotherapy can increase experimental
pain threshold and suggest a possible alternative for patients intolerant of
transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation.
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