Özet:

Purpose: Acupunture-Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation (Acupuncture-TENS) widely used to reduce neck pain has been shown to affect the motor side of pain. The effect of Acupuncture-TENS on reaction time which has great importance in terms of risk of musculoskeletal injury has not been investigated yet. The purpose of the study was to reveal the effects of Acupuncture-TENS on pain and reaction time in subjects with chronic neck pain. Methods: Forty five subjects aged between 25-55 years diagnosed with chronic neck pain were randomly divided into two groups. While Acupuncture-TENS (N=24) was applied to the first group, the second one received Placebo TENS (N=21) for 30 minutes. Pain intensity and dominant extremity reaction time (second) were assessed by using Visual Analog Scale and Nelson Hand Reaction Test before and after the applications. Results: No significant difference was between the groups for pain intensity and reaction time after application of Acupuncture-TENS and Placebo TENS (p>0.05). A significant decrease in pain intensity was determined in both groups (p<0.05) while no significant difference was found in terms of reaction time of dominant extremity (p>0.05). Conclusion: It was observed that a single-session of Acupuncture-TENS did not influence upper extremity reaction time in subjects with chronic neck pain. Further study is needed to assess cumulative effects of long-term treatment by using the Acupuncture-TENS on reaction time

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