ABSTRACT
Pain is considered as one of the most debilitating symptoms of cancer and its treatment. Owing to the limited efficacy of traditional pharmacological interventions to address cancer pain in its entirety, an avenue exists for exploration into nonpharmacological therapies. Analgesia using non?invasive electrotherapeutic modalities such as transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) and scrambler therapy emerges as a viable option to address cancer pain. The inability of these modalities to find a place within the recommended clinical guidelines has possibly resulted in the paucity of application of the same within the clinical setup. This perspective article aims at stimulating a discussion surrounding the inclusion of non?invasive neuromodulatory treatment techniques such as TENS and scrambler therapy to combat cancer pain and explore the benefits and pitfalls of using these techniques as an adjunct to the pre?existing treatment strategies. It is envisioned that this opinion piece will open a dialogue about a possible home for non?invasive electroanalgesia within the clinical treatment pathway for cancer pain.
ABSTRACT
Introduction: K4b2 (COSMED Srl Italy) is a portable device that is considered valid and reliable for measuring oxygen uptake (VO2) and carbon dioxide production (VCO2) under laboratory conditions. Objectives: Evaluate the test-retest reliability of K4b2 during walking, stair climbing and descending stairs under free living conditions. Methods: Twelve participants completed two self-selected comfortable paced walking tests and 20 participants completed two self-selected comfortable paced stair climbing and descending tests. VO2 and VCO2 were measured during the tests using K4b2. Results: ICCs for VO2 (ICC & 95% CI: 0.91, 0.72-0.97) and VCO2 (0.91, 0.72-0.97) of walking demonstrated high reliability whereas reliability was moderate for stair climbing (VO2: 0.82, 0.6-0.93; VCO2: 0.73, 0.44- 0.88) and low for descending stairs (VO2: 0.67, 0.33-0.85; VCO2: 0.51, 0.1-0.77). Conclusion: K4b2 is a highly reliable device for VO2 and VCO2 measurement during self-paced walking in free living environment.