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Van Bogaert W, Coppieters I, Nijs J, Buyl R, Ickmans K, Moens M, Goudman L, Putman K, Huysmans E. Influence of Preoperative Pain, Cognitions, and Quantitative Sensory Testing Measures on the Effects of Perioperative Pain Neuroscience Education for People Receiving Surgery for Lumbar Radiculopathy: Secondary Analysis of a Randomized Controlled Trial. J Orthop Sports Phys Ther 2024; 54:279-288. [PMID: 38189683 DOI: 10.2519/jospt.2024.12051] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/09/2024]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: To explore whether preoperative pain intensity, pain cognitions, and quantitative sensory measures influence the established effectiveness of perioperative pain neuroscience education (PPNE) on health-related quality of life at 1 year after surgery for lumbar radiculopathy. DESIGN: Secondary analysis of a triple-blinded randomized controlled trial. METHODS: Participants (n = 90) were Dutch-speaking adults (18-65 years) who were scheduled for surgery for lumbar radiculopathy in 3 Belgian hospitals. They were randomized (1:1) to receive PPNE (n = 41) or perioperative biomedical education (n = 49). Linear mixed models were built for health-related quality of life (ie, SF-6D utility values, Physical and Mental Component of the 36-item Short Form Health Survey) using the following independent variables: therapy, time, and preoperative scores for back and leg pain intensity, pain catastrophizing, kinesiophobia, hypervigilance, and quantitative sensory measures. RESULTS: The impact of PPNE on SF-6D utility values over time was influenced by kinesiophobia (F = 3.30, P = .02) and leg pain intensity (F = 3.48, P = .02). Regardless of the intervention, back pain intensity negatively influenced SF-6D values over time (F = 3.99, P = .009). The Physical Component scores were negatively impacted by back pain intensity (F = 9.08, P = .003) and were influenced over time by leg pain intensity (F = 2.87, P = .04). The Mental Component scores were negatively impacted by back pain intensity (F = 6.64, P = .01) and pain catastrophizing (F = 5.42, P = .02), as well as hypervigilance (F = 3.16, P = .03) and leg pain intensity (F = 3.12, P = .03) over time. CONCLUSION: PPNE may be more effective than perioperative biomedical education in improving postoperative health utility values in patients who reported higher kinesiophobia and leg pain intensity before surgery for lumbar radiculopathy. J Orthop Sports Phys Ther 2024;54(4):1-10. Epub 8 January 2024. doi:10.2519/jospt.2024.12051.
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Beckwée D, Nijs J, Bierma-Zeinstra SMA, Leemans L, Leysen L, Puts S, Rice D, Schiphof D, Bautmans I. Exercise therapy for knee osteoarthritis pain: how does it work? A study protocol for a randomised controlled trial. BMJ Open 2024; 14:e074258. [PMID: 38199628 PMCID: PMC10806725 DOI: 10.1136/bmjopen-2023-074258] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/21/2023] [Accepted: 11/28/2023] [Indexed: 01/12/2024] Open
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Muscle strengthening training (MST) and behavioural graded activity (BGA) show comparable effects on knee osteoarthritic (KOA) pain, but the mechanisms of action remain unclear. Both exercise-induced anti-inflammation and central sensitisation are promising pathways for pain relief in response to exercise therapy in patients with KOA: MST has the potential to decrease inflammation and BGA has the potential to decrease central sensitisation. Hence, this study aims to examine inflammation and central sensitisation as mediators for the effect of MST and/or BGA on pain in patients with KOA. METHODS AND ANALYSIS The Knee OsteoArthritis PAIN trial started on 10 January 2020 (anticipated end: April 2024). The three-arm clinical trial aims to recruit 90 KOA patients who will be randomly allocated to 12 weeks of (1) MST, (2) BGA or (3) care as usual. Assessments will be performed at baseline, 13 and 52 weeks after finishing the intervention. Outcomes, including pain (Knee injury and Osteoarthritis Outcome Score), were chosen in line with the OARSI recommendations for clinical trials of rehabilitation interventions for OA and the IMMPACT/OMERACT recommendations for the assessment of physical function in chronic pain clinical trials. Inflammation as well as features of central sensitisation (including conditioned pain modulation, offset analgesia, temporal summation of pain and event-related potentials following electrical stimulation), will be considered as treatment mediators. A multiple mediators model will be estimated with a path-analysis using structural equation models. In July 2023, all 90 KOA patients have been included and 42 participants already finished the study. ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION This study obtained ethics approval (B.U.N. 143201941843). Unravelling the mechanisms of action of exercise therapy in KOA will not only be extremely valuable for researchers, but also for exercise immunology and pain scientists and clinicians. TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER NCT04362618.
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Affiliation(s)
- David Beckwée
- Rehabilitation Research Group, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Brussel, Belgium
- Movement Antwerp (MOVANT) research group, Universiteit Antwerpen, Antwerpen, Belgium
- Gerontology and Frailty in Ageing (FRIA) Research Department, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Brussel, Belgium
| | - Jo Nijs
- Pain in Motion International Research Group, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Brussel, Belgium
- Department of Health and Rehabilitation, Unit of Physiotherapy, Institute of Neuroscience and Physiology, University of Gothenburg, Goteborg, Sweden
- University Hospital Brussels, Brussels, Belgium
| | - Sita M A Bierma-Zeinstra
- Department of General Practice, Erasmus University Medical Centre, Rotterdam, Netherlands
- Department of Orthopedics and Sports Medicine, Erasmus MC University Medical Center Rotterdam, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Lynn Leemans
- Rehabilitation Research Group, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Brussel, Belgium
- Pain in Motion International Research Group, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Brussel, Belgium
| | - Laurence Leysen
- Rehabilitation Research Group, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Brussel, Belgium
- Pain in Motion International Research Group, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Brussel, Belgium
| | - Sofie Puts
- Rehabilitation Research Group, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Brussel, Belgium
- Gerontology and Frailty in Ageing (FRIA) Research Department, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Brussel, Belgium
- Pain in Motion International Research Group, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Brussel, Belgium
| | - David Rice
- Health and Rehabilitation Research Institute, School of Clinical Sciences, Auckland University of Technology, Auckland, New Zealand
- Department of Anaesthesiology and Perioperative Medicine, Waitematā Pain Service, Te Whatu Ora Waitematā, Auckland, New Zealand
| | - Dieuwke Schiphof
- Department of General Practice, Erasmus University Medical Centre, Rotterdam, Netherlands
| | - Ivan Bautmans
- Gerontology and Frailty in Ageing (FRIA) Research Department, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Brussel, Belgium
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Knezevic A, Kovacevic M, Jeremic-Knezevic M, Nikolasevic Z, Tomasevic-Todorovic S, Zivanovic Z, Spasojevic T, Garipi E, Vojnovic L, Popovic D, Neblett R. Patients with neuropathic pain from lumbosacral radiculopathy demonstrate similar pressure pain thresholds and conditioned pain modulation to those with fibromyalgia. Neurophysiol Clin 2023; 53:102841. [PMID: 36716611 DOI: 10.1016/j.neucli.2022.102841] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/07/2022] [Revised: 11/13/2022] [Accepted: 12/17/2022] [Indexed: 01/29/2023] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVE The purpose of the study was to evaluate pain thresholds, impairment of the endogenous pain modulatory system, and self-reported cognitive-emotional and central sensitization-related symptoms among three subject groups: a rarely studied patient cohort with neuropathic pain from lumbosacral radiculopathy (NPLSR), patients with fibromyalgia (FM) and healthy controls (HC). METHODS Patient-reported pain-related symptomology was evaluated with psychometricallyvalidated questionnaires. Pressure pain threshold (PPT), heat pain threshold (HPT), and cold pain threshold (CPT) were assessed in the low back and contralateral forearm. Conditioned pain modulation (CPM) was evaluated with a recently introduced methodology that accounts for a standard error of measurement. RESULTS Compared to the HC subjects, the FM and NPLSR subjects had significantly lower pain thresholds and more CPM impairment. No significant differences in PPT and CPM were observed between the FM and NPLSR groups. Significant group differences were found in self-reported symptoms of depression, anxiety, stress, and central sensitization. Self-reported symptom severity increased in a stair-step fashion, with the HC group scoring lowest and FM group scoring highest. CONCLUSION The NPLSR group manifested CPM dysfunction and pressure hyperalgesia at similar levels to the FM group, indicating that these two chronic pain syndromes, likely based on different pathophysiological mechanisms, in fact share some common pain processing features. However, though both patient groups demonstrated similarities in pain processing, self-reported cognitive-emotional and central sensitization-related symptom severity was significantly higher in the FM cohort, which distinguished them from the chronic NPLSR cohort.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aleksandar Knezevic
- Faculty of Medicine University of Novi Sad, Serbia; Medical Rehabilitation Clinic University Clinical Centre of Vojvodina, Serbia.
| | | | | | | | - Snezana Tomasevic-Todorovic
- Faculty of Medicine University of Novi Sad, Serbia; Medical Rehabilitation Clinic University Clinical Centre of Vojvodina, Serbia
| | - Zeljko Zivanovic
- Faculty of Medicine University of Novi Sad, Serbia; Neurology Clinic University Clinical Centre of Vojvodina, Serbia
| | - Tijana Spasojevic
- Faculty of Medicine University of Novi Sad, Serbia; Medical Rehabilitation Clinic University Clinical Centre of Vojvodina, Serbia
| | - Enis Garipi
- Faculty of Medicine University of Novi Sad, Serbia; Medical Rehabilitation Clinic University Clinical Centre of Vojvodina, Serbia
| | - Larisa Vojnovic
- Faculty of Medicine University of Novi Sad, Serbia; Medical Rehabilitation Clinic University Clinical Centre of Vojvodina, Serbia
| | - Dunja Popovic
- Faculty of Medicine University of Novi Sad, Serbia; Medical Rehabilitation Clinic University Clinical Centre of Vojvodina, Serbia
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Huysmans E, Goudman L, Van Bogaert W, Nijs J, Putman K, Moens M, Buyl R, Ickmans K, Garcia Barajas G, Fernández-Carnero J, Coppieters I. Experimental Pain Measurements Do Not Relate to Pain Intensity and Pain Cognitions in People Scheduled for Surgery for Lumbar Radiculopathy. PAIN MEDICINE 2023; 24:139-149. [PMID: 36053220 DOI: 10.1093/pm/pnac133] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/13/2021] [Revised: 06/03/2022] [Accepted: 08/05/2022] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE The present cross-sectional study aims to unravel associations of pain intensity and cognitions with quantitative sensory testing in people scheduled for surgery for lumbar radiculopathy. Additionally, insight will be provided into the presence of dysfunctional nociceptive processing and maladaptive pain cognitions in this population. DESIGN Cross-sectional study. SETTING Data from three hospitals in Belgium. SUBJECTS The final sample comprised 120 participants with lumbar radiculopathy scheduled for surgery, included between March 2016 and April 2019. METHODS Self-reported pain intensity was assessed on a visual analog scale, and pain cognitions were assessed with self-reported questionnaires (Pain Catastrophizing Scale, Tampa Scale for Kinesiophobia, and Pain Vigilance and Awareness Questionnaire). Quantitative sensory testing (detection thresholds, pain thresholds, temporal summation, and conditioned pain modulation) was evaluated, as well. RESULTS Evidence was found for the presence of an impaired inhibitory response to nociceptive stimuli and maladaptive pain cognitions in this population. Kinesiophobia was found to be present to a maladaptive degree in the majority of the patients (n = 106 [88%]). Significant, but weak, associations between electrical pain thresholds at the sural nerves and leg pain intensity (sural nerve symptomatic side: r = -0.23; P = 0.01; non-symptomatic side: r = -0.22; P = 0.02) and kinesiophobia levels (sural nerve non-symptomatic side: r = -0.26; P = 0.006) were identified. CONCLUSIONS Electrical detection thresholds and correlates for endogenous nociceptive facilitation and inhibition were not found to be related to any of the pain cognitions or to pain intensity in people scheduled to undergo surgery for lumbar radiculopathy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eva Huysmans
- Pain in Motion Research Group (PAIN), Department of Physiotherapy, Human Physiology and Anatomy, Faculty of Physical Education & Physiotherapy, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Brussels, Belgium
- Interuniversity Centre for Health Economics Research (I-CHER), Department of Public Health (GEWE), Faculty of Medicine and Pharmacy, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Brussels, Belgium
- Research Foundation Flanders (FWO), Brussels, Belgium
- Department of Physical Medicine and Physiotherapy, Universitair Ziekenhuis Brussel, Brussels, Belgium
| | - Lisa Goudman
- Pain in Motion Research Group (PAIN), Department of Physiotherapy, Human Physiology and Anatomy, Faculty of Physical Education & Physiotherapy, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Brussels, Belgium
- Research Foundation Flanders (FWO), Brussels, Belgium
- Department of Neurosurgery, Universitair Ziekenhuis Brussel, Brussels, Belgium
- Center for Neurosciences (C4N), Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB), Brussels, Belgium
- STIMULUS research group, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Brussels, Belgium
| | - Wouter Van Bogaert
- Pain in Motion Research Group (PAIN), Department of Physiotherapy, Human Physiology and Anatomy, Faculty of Physical Education & Physiotherapy, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Brussels, Belgium
- Interuniversity Centre for Health Economics Research (I-CHER), Department of Public Health (GEWE), Faculty of Medicine and Pharmacy, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Brussels, Belgium
- Research Foundation Flanders (FWO), Brussels, Belgium
| | - Jo Nijs
- Pain in Motion Research Group (PAIN), Department of Physiotherapy, Human Physiology and Anatomy, Faculty of Physical Education & Physiotherapy, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Brussels, Belgium
- Department of Physical Medicine and Physiotherapy, Universitair Ziekenhuis Brussel, Brussels, Belgium
| | - Koen Putman
- Interuniversity Centre for Health Economics Research (I-CHER), Department of Public Health (GEWE), Faculty of Medicine and Pharmacy, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Brussels, Belgium
| | - Maarten Moens
- Pain in Motion Research Group (PAIN), Department of Physiotherapy, Human Physiology and Anatomy, Faculty of Physical Education & Physiotherapy, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Brussels, Belgium
- Department of Neurosurgery, Universitair Ziekenhuis Brussel, Brussels, Belgium
- Center for Neurosciences (C4N), Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB), Brussels, Belgium
- STIMULUS research group, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Brussels, Belgium
- Department of Radiology, Universitair Ziekenhuis Brussel, Brussels, Belgium
| | - Ronald Buyl
- Department of Biostatistics and Medical Informatics, Faculty of Medicine and Pharmacy, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Brussels, Belgium
| | - Kelly Ickmans
- Pain in Motion Research Group (PAIN), Department of Physiotherapy, Human Physiology and Anatomy, Faculty of Physical Education & Physiotherapy, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Brussels, Belgium
- Research Foundation Flanders (FWO), Brussels, Belgium
- Department of Physical Medicine and Physiotherapy, Universitair Ziekenhuis Brussel, Brussels, Belgium
| | - Guillermo Garcia Barajas
- Department of Physical and Occupational Therapy, Rehabilitation and Physical Medicine, Universidad Rey Juan Carlos, Alcorcón, Madrid, Spain
| | - Josue Fernández-Carnero
- Department of Physical and Occupational Therapy, Rehabilitation and Physical Medicine, Universidad Rey Juan Carlos, Alcorcón, Madrid, Spain
- La Paz Hospital Institute for Health Research, IdiPAZ, Madrid, Spain
- Musculoskeletal Pain and Motor Control Research Group, Faculty of Health Sciences, Universidad Europea de Madrid, Madrid, Spain
| | - Iris Coppieters
- Pain in Motion Research Group (PAIN), Department of Physiotherapy, Human Physiology and Anatomy, Faculty of Physical Education & Physiotherapy, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Brussels, Belgium
- Department of Physical Medicine and Physiotherapy, Universitair Ziekenhuis Brussel, Brussels, Belgium
- Department of Rehabilitation Sciences, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
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Nie C, Chen K, Chen J, Zhu Y, Jiang J, Jin X, Xia X, Zheng C. Altered central pain processing assessed by quantitative sensory testing in patients with failed back surgery syndrome. Neurophysiol Clin 2022; 52:427-435. [DOI: 10.1016/j.neucli.2022.10.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/04/2022] [Revised: 10/24/2022] [Accepted: 10/24/2022] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
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Berfelo T, Doll RJ, Krabbenbos IP, Buitenweg JR. Observing Altered Nociceptive Detection Thresholds in Patients With Persistent Spinal Pain Syndrome Type 2 With a Dorsal Root Ganglion Stimulator. Neuromodulation 2022; 25:1006-1014. [DOI: 10.1016/j.neurom.2021.10.023] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/29/2021] [Revised: 10/08/2021] [Accepted: 10/19/2021] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
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Coppieters I, Willaert W, Lenoir D, Meeus M, Cagnie B, Ickmans K, Malfliet A, Danneels L, De Petter B, Nijs J. A contemporary neuroscience approach compared to biomedically focused education combined with symptom-contingent exercise therapy in people with chronic whiplash associated disorders: a randomized controlled trial protocol. Braz J Phys Ther 2021; 25:356-366. [PMID: 33109480 PMCID: PMC8134836 DOI: 10.1016/j.bjpt.2020.09.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/23/2020] [Revised: 07/29/2020] [Accepted: 09/23/2020] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND To address the need for a better treatment of chronic whiplash associated disorders (WAD), a contemporary neuroscience approach can be proposed. OBJECTIVE To examine the effectiveness of a contemporary neuroscience approach, comprising pain neuroscience education, stress management, and cognition-targeted exercise therapy versus conventional physical therapy for reducing disability (primary outcome measure) and improving quality of life and reducing pain, central sensitization, and psychological problems (secondary outcome measures) in people with chronic WAD. METHODS The study is a multi-center, two-arm randomized, controlled trial with 1-year follow-up and will be performed in two university-based and one regional hospital. People with chronic WAD (n=120) will be recruited. The experimental group will receive pain neuroscience education followed by cognition-targeted exercise therapy, and stress management. The control group will receive biomedically focused education followed by graded and active exercise therapy focusing on muscle endurance, strength, and flexibility, and ergonomic principles. The treatment will have a duration of 16 weeks. Functional status (Neck Disability Index) is the primary outcome measure. Secondary outcome measures include quality of life, pain, central sensitization, and psychological and socio-economic factors. In addition, electroencephalography will measure brain activity at rest and during a conditioned pain modulation paradigm. Assessments will take place at baseline, immediately post-treatment and at 6 and 12 months follow-up. CONCLUSIONS This study will examine whether a contemporary neuroscience approach is superior over conventional physical therapy for improving functioning, quality of life, and reducing pain, central sensitization, and psychological problems in people with chronic WAD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Iris Coppieters
- Pain in Motion Research Group (PAIN), Department of Physiotherapy, Human Physiology and Anatomy (KIMA), Faculty of Physical Education & Physiotherapy, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Brussels, Belgium; Department of Physical Medicine and Physiotherapy, University Hospital Brussels, Brussels, Belgium; Department of Rehabilitation Sciences, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium.
| | - Ward Willaert
- Pain in Motion Research Group (PAIN), Department of Physiotherapy, Human Physiology and Anatomy (KIMA), Faculty of Physical Education & Physiotherapy, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Brussels, Belgium; Department of Rehabilitation Sciences, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Dorine Lenoir
- Pain in Motion Research Group (PAIN), Department of Physiotherapy, Human Physiology and Anatomy (KIMA), Faculty of Physical Education & Physiotherapy, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Brussels, Belgium; Department of Rehabilitation Sciences, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Mira Meeus
- Department of Rehabilitation Sciences, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium; Department of Rehabilitation Sciences and Physiotherapy (MOVANT), Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium
| | - Barbara Cagnie
- Department of Rehabilitation Sciences, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Kelly Ickmans
- Pain in Motion Research Group (PAIN), Department of Physiotherapy, Human Physiology and Anatomy (KIMA), Faculty of Physical Education & Physiotherapy, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Brussels, Belgium; Department of Physical Medicine and Physiotherapy, University Hospital Brussels, Brussels, Belgium; Research Foundation-Flanders (FWO), 1090 Brussels, Belgium
| | - Anneleen Malfliet
- Pain in Motion Research Group (PAIN), Department of Physiotherapy, Human Physiology and Anatomy (KIMA), Faculty of Physical Education & Physiotherapy, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Brussels, Belgium; Department of Physical Medicine and Physiotherapy, University Hospital Brussels, Brussels, Belgium; Research Foundation-Flanders (FWO), 1090 Brussels, Belgium
| | - Lieven Danneels
- Department of Rehabilitation Sciences, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Brenda De Petter
- Sint-Jozefkliniek, Campus Bornem (AZ Rivierenland), Bornem, Belgium
| | - Jo Nijs
- Pain in Motion Research Group (PAIN), Department of Physiotherapy, Human Physiology and Anatomy (KIMA), Faculty of Physical Education & Physiotherapy, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Brussels, Belgium; Department of Physical Medicine and Physiotherapy, University Hospital Brussels, Brussels, Belgium
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Arendt-Nielsen L, Larsen JB, Rasmussen S, Krogh M, Borg L, Madeleine P. A novel clinical applicable bed-side tool for assessing conditioning pain modulation: proof-of-concept. Scand J Pain 2020; 20:801-807. [DOI: 10.1515/sjpain-2020-0033] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/05/2020] [Accepted: 05/20/2020] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
Abstract
Abstract
Background and aims
In recent years, focus on assessing descending pain modulation or conditioning pain modulation (CPM) has emerged in patients with chronic pain. This requires reliable and simple to use bed-side tools to be applied in the clinic. The aim of the present pilot study was to develop and provide proof-of-concept of a simple clinically applicable bed-side tool for assessing CPM.
Methods
A group of 26 healthy volunteers participated in the experiment. Pressure pain thresholds (PPT) were assessed as test stimuli from the lower leg before, during and 5 min after delivering the conditioning tonic painful pressure stimulation. The tonic stimulus was delivered for 2 min by a custom-made spring-loaded finger pressure device applying a fixed pressure (2.2 kg) to the index finger nail. The pain intensity provoked by the tonic stimulus was continuously recorded on a 0–10 cm Visual Analog Scale (VAS).
Results
The median tonic pain stimulus intensity was 6.7 cm (interquartile range: 4.6–8.4 cm) on the 10 cm VAS. The mean PPT increased significantly (P = 0.034) by 55 ± 126 kPa from 518 ± 173 kPa before to 573 ± 228 kPa during conditioning stimulation. When analyzing the individual CPM responses (increases in PPT), a distribution of positive and negative CPM responders was observed with 69% of the individuals classified as positive CPM responders (increased PPTs = anti-nociceptive) and the rest as negative CPM responders (no or decreased PPTs = Pro-nociceptive). This particular responder distribution explains the large variation in the averaged CPM responses observed in many CPM studies. The strongest positive CPM response was an increase of 418 kPa and the strongest negative CPM response was a decrease of 140 kPa.
Conclusions
The present newly developed conditioning pain stimulator provides a simple, applicable tool for routine CPM assessment in clinical practice. Further, reporting averaged CPM effects should be replaced by categorizing volunteers/patients into anti-nociceptive and pro-nociceptive CPM groups.
Implications
The finger pressure device provided moderate-to-high pain intensities and was useful for inducing conditioning stimuli. Therefore, the finger pressure device could be a useful bed-side method for measuring CPM in clinical settings with limited time available. Future bed-side studies involving patient populations are warranted to determine the usefulness of the method.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lars Arendt-Nielsen
- Translational Pain Biomarkers, CNAP and Center for Sensory-Motor Interaction (SMI), Department of Health Science and Technology, School of Medicine , Aalborg University , Fredrik Bajers Vej 7, Bld. D3 , DK-9220 Aalborg East , Denmark
| | - Jesper Bie Larsen
- Translational Pain Biomarkers, CNAP and Center for Sensory-Motor Interaction (SMI), Department of Health Science and Technology, School of Medicine , Aalborg University , Fredrik Bajers Vej 7, Bld. D3 , DK-9220 Aalborg East , Denmark
- Sports Sciences – Performance and Technology, Department of Health Science and Technology , School of Medicine, Aalborg University , Aalborg East , Denmark
| | - Stine Rasmussen
- Sports Sciences – Performance and Technology, Department of Health Science and Technology , School of Medicine, Aalborg University , Aalborg East , Denmark
| | - Malene Krogh
- Sports Sciences – Performance and Technology, Department of Health Science and Technology , School of Medicine, Aalborg University , Aalborg East , Denmark
| | - Laura Borg
- Sports Sciences – Performance and Technology, Department of Health Science and Technology , School of Medicine, Aalborg University , Aalborg East , Denmark
| | - Pascal Madeleine
- Sports Sciences – Performance and Technology, Department of Health Science and Technology , School of Medicine, Aalborg University , Aalborg East , Denmark
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