The cutaneous stimulation method is a technique to reduce pain through cutaneous stimulation of nearby somatosensory fibers by rubbing or massage. It is based on the theory of gating, which states that local activation of larger diameter fine touch somatosensory nerve fibers causes inhibition of smaller diameter pain fibers. The cutaneous stimulation method is not mediated by exhaustion of neurotransmitter tolerance through repetitive stimulation (adaptation). It is also not merely a distraction or a placebo effect.