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Effect of Subthreshold Stimulation on Fatigue in Rheumatoid Arthritis
Sponsor: Beni-Suef University
Summary
The study will include 2 groups. The study group will receive subthreshold stimulation, while the control group will receive sham treatment.
Official title: Effect of Subthreshold Stimulation on Fatigability, Lower Limb Muscle Function and Strength, and Inflammatory Blood Markers in Patients With Rheumatoid Arthritis: A Randomized Controlled Study.
Key Details
Gender
All
Age Range
30 Years - 60 Years
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Enrollment
84
Start Date
2026-02-15
Completion Date
2026-05-15
Last Updated
2026-01-27
Healthy Volunteers
No
Conditions
Interventions
Subthreshold stimulation
The study group received subthreshold stimulation via a two-channel portable electrical stimulation unit (BTL-4620, Czech Republic). Two self-adhesive electrodes (9 × 5 cm Axelgaard PALS, Axelgaard Manufacturing Co. Ltd., CA, USA) were used to deliver a premixed amplitude-modulated electrical current with 100 Hz frequency/pulse 60ms width. Four electrodes were placed on the quadriceps muscle to include all the muscle as follows: the first electrode was placed on proximal third, the the secod electrode was placed on middle third, the third electrode was placed on distal lateral third, and the fourth electrode was placed on the distal medial third. Before applying the electrodes, the skin of the anterior thigh was cleansed with alcohol to decrease the surface impedance. The intensity of the device gradually increased till the participant started to feel the electrical current. Then, the intensity was decreased by 10%. Therefore, the intensity is about 90% of the sensation threshold.
Sham treatment
The device will be placed on the patient without any stimulation