This study was conducted to compare the effects of transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation(TENS) and silver spike point(SSP) therapy on experimental pain threshold.

Thirty healthy adult male and female subjects were assigned randomly to a treatment group or to a control group. Experimental pain threshold at calf was determined with pain threshold of electrical stimulation and nociceptive flexion reflex. Only the group receiving TENS or SSP exhibited a significant increase in experimental pain threshold. The comparable control group did not exhibit significant pretest-posttest difference in experimental pain threshold. In treatment group, no significant differences were observed between the pain thresholds after TENS and SSP therapy.

The results suggest that TENS and SSP therapy can increase pain threshold and the effects on pain threshold are the same.