Acupuncture transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation reduces discomfort associated with barostat-induced rectal distension: A randomized-controlled study

Table 3 Perception threshold, distension pressures, levels of blood beta-endorphin in transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation over acupuncture points and placebo transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation over acupuncture points groups (mean ± SD)

	Acu-TENS	PA	P value
Perception threshold (mmHg)
First perception of distension	18.4 ± 4.2	16.8 ± 6.4	0.358
Urge to defecate	28.0 ± 4.5	24.6 ± 5.7	0.043
Discomfort or pain	36.0 ± 4.2	30.5 ± 4.3	0.002
Extreme pain	40.0 ± 6.7	35.4 ± 5.6	0.179
Pressure (n = 20)
40 mmHg	17 (85)	10 (50)	0.020
44 mmHg	13 (65)	3 (15)	0.001
48 mmHg	11 (55)	2 (10)	0.022
Levels of blood beta-endorphin (ng/mL)
Baseline	1.04 ± 0.35	1.22 ± 0.52	0.216
After 45 min of intervention	1.14 ± 0.41	1.13 ± 0.48	0.980
At 24 mmHg pressure	1.31 ± 0.40	1.04 ± 0.43	0.044
At maximal tolerable pressure or 48 mmHg	1.46 ± 0.53	0.95 ± 0.38	0.003

Acu-TENS: Transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation over acupuncture points; PA: Placebo transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation over acupuncture points.