A randomised, single blind study to evaluate the effects of action potential simulator therapy compared with placebo in patients with chronic back pain

Author： Puranik Sarang Fozard John Paremain Guy Kilminister Shaun Hughes Debbie Williams Elizabeth

Publisher： Maney Publishing

ISSN： 1568-5691

Source： The Pain Clinic, Vol.14, Iss.1, 2002-06, pp. : 69-73

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Abstract

This study investigated a relatively new device known as the Action Potential Simulator (APS) for pain relief in chronic low back pain with or without leg pain. The study had a single blind and parallel group design. A total of 24 patients were studied. Twelve patients received treatment with the active device and twelve with a placebo machine. Treatments were given for 8 minutes on 5 consecutive days. The results of visual analogue scores were compared pre- and post-treatment with both machines. The Oswestry Back Pain Questionnaire was completed before and at the end of the study and the results compared. There were significant effects on the VAS [visual analogue score] from visit 4 onwards. Newman Keuls tests showed significant differences both at visit 4 (p = 0.03) and visit 5 (p = 0.021) of sham versus active treatments. In terms of SD, the sham effect was about one-eight SD and active was one-quarter SD. This is a very small effect for both active and sham APS. Thus we conclude that APS therapy for chronic back pain in our group of patients was found to produce a small but clinically insignificant reduction in pain and took about 4 consecutive daily visits to show this effect.