Differences in Pain Perception in Women Using Concentric and Monopolar Needles

Balbierz JM, Petajan JH, Alder SC, Vlach SA. Differences in pain perception in women using concentric and monopolar needles. To examine pain perception using concentric needle electrodes and monopolar needle electrodes in an all-female study group without underlying hand or arm pain complaints, using study subjects as their own controls. Prospective randomized study. Two muscles—the biceps and abductor pollicis brevis (APB)—were examined using both a concentric needle electrode and a monopolar needle electrode. University community. Eighty healthy female employees at the University of Utah and Primary Children’s Hospital were enrolled. All completed the study. Not applicable. Pain scores. Posttest verbal analog pain scale (0−10) measures were obtained after each muscle was studied. A subset of subjects (n=51) was asked to identify needle preference after completion of the study. There was no significant difference in mean pain scores between the concentric needle electrode and the monopolar needle electrode (3.06 and 3.10, respectively; P=.803). The APB muscle was significantly more painful than the biceps muscle with both needle types (mean pain scores, 3.92 and 2.24, respectively; P