Investigating the analgesia caused by tactile stimulus - Challenge to the gate control theory by nursing model

2023 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 19K10708
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (C)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Section: 一般
• Review Section: Basic Section 58050:Fundamental of nursing-related
• Research Institution: Jikei University School of Medicine
• Principal Investigator: Fukai Kiyoko 東京慈恵会医科大学, 医学部, 非常勤講師 (70104809)
• Co-Investigator(Kenkyū-buntansha): 大倉 美穂 川崎医療福祉大学, 保健看護学部, 講師 (10259591)
• Project Period (FY): 2019-04-01 – 2024-03-31
• Keywords: 痛み / 月経痛 / 内臓痛 / 極小ビーズ付テープ / 触圧刺激 / せん断力 / 補完代替療法 / ゲートコントロール説

Outline of Final Research Achievements

We have previously demonstrated that applying a tape covered with tiny beads (BT) to painful areas relieves pain in joints and muscles. In this project, we conducted a quasi-randomized controlled trial in which the BT was applied to the lower abdominal skin of women with menstrual pain, and confirmed that the BT was also effective for menstrual pain (visceral pain). It is speculated that the pain relief brought by the BT application is caused by the shear force that occurs at the contact surface between the skin and the BT, which excites the tactile nerves. The pain relief phenomenon caused by the tactile stimulation of BT application provides an evidence supporting the Gate Control Theory of Melzack and Wall (1965, 1968).

Free Research Field

基礎看護学、看護技術学、疼痛看護学

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

触圧刺激を利用した痛みの補完代替療法にはマッサージがよく知られているが、芳香や温熱など他の方法と組み合わせて実施されることが多く、痛みを修飾する可能性のある複数の要素が含まれるため鎮痛効果を評価しにくい。マッサージはまた、施術者が手掌で実施するために対人間の心理的作用も無視できない。これに対してビーズテープ貼付による鎮痛は単に皮膚の機械的な触圧刺激によって起こる現象であるため、痛みの評価（鎮痛効果の判断）が容易で、費用対効果の高い、斬新な補完代替療法といえよう。学術的には、補完代替療法の鎮痛機序をゲートコントロール理論で合理的に説明できるという意義がある。