Transcutaneous Electrical Stimulation & Sinoatrial Node Function (TENS&HR)

Effects of Transcutaneous Electrical Stimulation on the Sinoatrial Node Function

Transcutaneous electrical stimulation (TES) is used in clinical practice to diagnose or treat a diverse range of medical conditions for over a century. Although the benefits of TES are well known, its potential side effects on the heart have not been convincingly clarified. This study will test whether TES has any effect on the sinoatrial node (SAN).

Study Overview

Detailed Description

It was hypothesized that: 1) TES has effects indirectly via peripheral afferents or directly on the SAN, and 2) TES causes a change in the R-R interval (HRV). The aim of this study was to test these hypotheses.

This research protocol will have three phases: first, the effect of a single electrical pulse on heart rate variability (HRV) will be examined in Experiment I. The effects of conventional TENS and acupuncture-like TENS on HRV will be also investigated in Experiment II. Finally, the effect of time and rest on the HRV will be tested in Experiment III. Subjects will be in a sitting position with 90-degree flexion at the elbow and supination of the hand during electrical stimulation. A pair of square (4 x 4 cm), self-adhesive, pre-gelled skin electrodes will be used for stimulation. The electrodes will be placed over the flexor aspect of the right forearm. Three-lead electrocardiogram (ECG) recording will be obtained to determine the change of HRV during rest and electrical stimulation sessions. The participant's ECG data will be continuously captured by noninvasive sensors [self-adhesive pre-gelled Ag/AgCl surface electromyography (sEMG) electrodes, Redline® Istanbul, Türkiye] transmitted through a data acquisition system.

The main outcome variable is the heart rhythm. In this context, electrical stimulus-related QRS wave and RR interval change (heart rate variability) will be examined. The possible direct effect of an electrical stimulus on the appearance of the QRS wave will be investigated in the time domain using the Peristimulus time histogram and the Waveform average technique. ECG data will be analyzed using a software package (Cambridge Electronic Designs, Cambridge, UK).

Study Type

Interventional

Enrollment (Actual)

34

Phase

  • Not Applicable

Contacts and Locations

This section provides the contact details for those conducting the study, and information on where this study is being conducted.

Study Locations

      • Istanbul, Turkey, 34180
        • İstanbul Physical Therapy Training and Research Hospital

Participation Criteria

Researchers look for people who fit a certain description, called eligibility criteria. Some examples of these criteria are a person's general health condition or prior treatments.

Eligibility Criteria

Ages Eligible for Study

  • Adult

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Yes

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

  • Healthy young adult volunteer

Exclusion Criteria:

  • Pregnancy
  • Alcohol or drug abuse,
  • Any medication with potential effects on the cardiovascular system

Study Plan

This section provides details of the study plan, including how the study is designed and what the study is measuring.

How is the study designed?

Design Details

  • Primary Purpose: Prevention
  • Allocation: N/A
  • Interventional Model: Single Group Assignment
  • Masking: None (Open Label)

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm
Intervention / Treatment
Experimental: Electrical Stimulation
Electrical Stimulation and Sham will be delivered transcutaneously in random consecutive sessions
Electrical Stimulation and a sham will be administered through the skin in random consecutive sessions in a study group. A single monophasic square electrical pulse and transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation will be applied to the forearm volar aspect.

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Heart rate
Time Frame: up to 2 weeks
RR interval will be calculated
up to 2 weeks
Heart rate variability
Time Frame: up to 2 weeks
Variability of RR interval will be calculated
up to 2 weeks

Collaborators and Investigators

This is where you will find people and organizations involved with this study.

Investigators

  • Study Chair: İLHAN KARACAN, MD, Prof, İstanbul Physical Therapy Rehabilitation Training & Research Hosptial

Study record dates

These dates track the progress of study record and summary results submissions to ClinicalTrials.gov. Study records and reported results are reviewed by the National Library of Medicine (NLM) to make sure they meet specific quality control standards before being posted on the public website.

Study Major Dates

Study Start (Actual)

July 13, 2023

Primary Completion (Actual)

July 31, 2023

Study Completion (Actual)

August 1, 2023

Study Registration Dates

First Submitted

July 13, 2023

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

July 20, 2023

First Posted (Actual)

August 1, 2023

Study Record Updates

Last Update Posted (Actual)

August 22, 2023

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

August 19, 2023

Last Verified

August 1, 2023

More Information

Terms related to this study

Drug and device information, study documents

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product

No

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product

No

This information was retrieved directly from the website clinicaltrials.gov without any changes. If you have any requests to change, remove or update your study details, please contact register@clinicaltrials.gov. As soon as a change is implemented on clinicaltrials.gov, this will be updated automatically on our website as well.

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