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da Silva AAC, Gomes SRA, do Nascimento RM, Fonseca AK, Pegado R, Souza CG, Macedo LDB. Effects of transcranial direct current stimulation combined with Pilates-based exercises in the treatment of chronic low back pain in outpatient rehabilitation service in Brazil: double-blind randomised controlled trial protocol. BMJ Open 2023; 13:e075373. [PMID: 38159941 PMCID: PMC10759071 DOI: 10.1136/bmjopen-2023-075373] [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: 05/05/2023] [Accepted: 10/30/2023] [Indexed: 01/03/2024] Open
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Chronic low back pain may be associated with pathoanatomical, neurophysiological, physical, psychological and social factors; thus, treatments to reduce symptoms are important to improve the quality of life of this population. We aimed to evaluate the effects of transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) combined with Pilates-based exercises compared with sham stimulation on pain, quality of life and disability in patients with chronic non-specific low back pain. METHODS AND ANALYSIS This is a protocol for a double-blind randomised controlled trial with participants, outcome assessor and statistician blinded. We will include 36 individuals with a history of non-specific chronic low back pain for more than 12 weeks and minimum pain intensity of 3 points on the Numerical Pain Rating Scale. Individuals will be randomised into two groups: (1) active tDCS combined with Pilates-based exercises and (2) sham tDCS combined with Pilates-based exercises. Three weekly sessions of the protocol will be provided for 4 weeks, and individuals will be submitted to three assessments: the first (T0) will be performed before the intervention protocol, the second (T1) immediately after the intervention protocol and the third (T2) will be a follow-up 1 month after the end of the intervention. We will assess pain, disability, central sensitisation, quality of life, pressure pain threshold, global impression of change, adverse events and medication use. The Numerical Pain Rating Scale and the Roland-Morris Disability Questionnaire will be used at T1 to assess pain and disability, respectively, as primary outcome measures. ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION This trial was prospectively registered in ClinicalTrials.gov website and ethically approved by the Ethics and Research Committee of the Faculty of Health Sciences of Trairi (report number: 5.411.244) before data collection. We will publish the results in a peer-reviewed medical journal and on institution websites. TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER ClinicalTrials.gov (NCT05467566).
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | - Rodrigo Pegado
- Graduate Program in Health Sciences. Graduate Program in Physical Therapy, UFRN, Natal, Brazil
| | - Clécio Gabriel Souza
- Faculty of Health Sciences of Trairi, Post Graduation Program in Rehabilitation Science, UFRN, Santa Cruz, Brazil
| | - Liane de Brito Macedo
- Faculty of Health Sciences of Trairi, Post Graduation Program in Rehabilitation Science, UFRN, Santa Cruz, Brazil
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Nascimento RMD, Cavalcanti RL, Souza CG, Chaves G, Macedo LB. Transcranial direct current stimulation combined with peripheral stimulation in chronic pain: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Expert Rev Med Devices 2023; 20:121-140. [PMID: 35130800 DOI: 10.1080/17434440.2022.2039623] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/23/2022]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION The combination of Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation (tDCS) with peripheral stimulation may optimize their effects and bring positive results in treatment of people with chronic pain. AREAS COVERED A systematic review with meta-analysis of randomized and non-randomized trials was performed to investigate the combination of tDCS with peripheral stimulation in adults with chronic pain. The primary outcome was pain intensity. Six studies were included in this review (sample of 228 participants), which investigated the combination of tDCS and transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation, peripheral electrical stimulation, breathing-controlled electrical stimulation and intramuscular electrical stimulation. The conditions studied were knee osteoarthritis, spinal cord injury, chronic low back pain, and neurogenic pain of the arms. Pain intensity, measured by visual analog scale or numerical rating scale, was reduced in all included studies when at least one of the interventions was active, regardless they were combined or alone, with or without tDCS. However, meta-analysis showed superiority of tDCS used in combination with peripheral stimulation. EXPERT OPINION This systematic review and meta-analysis suggests positive effects of tDCS combined with peripheral stimulation in chronic pain conditions. However, the evidence of the primary outcome was classified as low quality due to the limited number of studies.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Clécio Gabriel Souza
- Faculty of Health Sciences of Trairí, Federal University of Rio Grande Do Norte, Santa Cruz, Brazil
| | - Gabriela Chaves
- Research and Development, Myant Inc. . Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Liane Brito Macedo
- Faculty of Health Sciences of Trairí, Federal University of Rio Grande Do Norte, Santa Cruz, Brazil
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Chang TT, Chang YH, Du SH, Chen PJ, Wang XQ. Non-invasive brain neuromodulation techniques for chronic low back pain. Front Mol Neurosci 2022; 15:1032617. [PMID: 36340685 PMCID: PMC9627199 DOI: 10.3389/fnmol.2022.1032617] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/31/2022] [Accepted: 10/03/2022] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Structural and functional changes of the brain occur in many chronic pain conditions, including chronic low back pain (CLBP), and these brain abnormalities can be reversed by effective treatment. Research on the clinical applications of non-invasive brain neuromodulation (NIBS) techniques for chronic pain is increasing. Unfortunately, little is known about the effectiveness of NIBS on CLBP, which limits its application in clinical pain management. Therefore, we summarized the effectiveness and limitations of NIBS techniques on CLBP management and described the effects and mechanisms of NIBS approaches on CLBP in this review. Overall, NIBS may be effective for the treatment of CLBP. And the analgesic mechanisms of NIBS for CLBP may involve the regulation of pain signal pathway, synaptic plasticity, neuroprotective effect, neuroinflammation modulation, and variations in cerebral blood flow and metabolism. Current NIBS studies for CLBP have limitations, such as small sample size, relative low quality of evidence, and lack of mechanistic studies. Further studies on the effect of NIBS are needed, especially randomized controlled trials with high quality and large sample size.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tian-Tian Chang
- Department of Sport Rehabilitation, Shanghai University of Sport, Shanghai, China
| | - Yu-Hao Chang
- Department of Luoyang Postgraduate Training, Henan University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Luoyang, China
| | - Shu-Hao Du
- Department of Sport Rehabilitation, Shanghai University of Sport, Shanghai, China
| | - Pei-Jie Chen
- Department of Sport Rehabilitation, Shanghai University of Sport, Shanghai, China
- *Correspondence: Pei-Jie Chen,
| | - Xue-Qiang Wang
- Department of Sport Rehabilitation, Shanghai University of Sport, Shanghai, China
- Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, Shanghai Shangti Orthopaedic Hospital, Shanghai, China
- Shanghai Key Lab of Human Performance, Shanghai University of Sport, Shanghai, China
- Xue-Qiang Wang,
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Erdoğan ET, Küçük Z, Eskikurt G, Kurt A, Ermutlu N, Karamürsel S. Single Session Anodal Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation on Different Cortical Areas. J PSYCHOPHYSIOL 2022. [DOI: 10.1027/0269-8803/a000311] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
Abstract
Abstract. Transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) studies in healthy volunteers have shown conflicting results in terms of modulation in pain thresholds. The aim of this study was to investigate how single session anodal tDCS and modulated tDCS (mtDCS) of distinct cortical areas affected pain and perception thresholds in healthy participants. Five different stimulation conditions were applied at different cortical sites to 20 healthy volunteers to investigate the effects of tDCS and mtDCS (20 Hz) on pain and perception thresholds. TDCS over the motor cortex (M1), mtDCS over the motor cortex, tDCS over the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC), mtDCS of the DLPFC, and mtDCS over the occipital cortex were the stimulation conditions. All of the stimulations were anodal. The stimulations were given in a randomized order at 20-minute intervals. For comparison, electrical pain and perception thresholds were obtained from the right middle finger before and during the tDCS. After each measurement, participants were asked to give a score to their pain. In repeated measures analysis of variance (RM-ANOVA) test, the Condition × Time interaction showed no significant influence on changes in pain, perception thresholds, and pain scores ( p = .48, p = .89, and p = .50, respectively). However, regardless of the condition types, there was a significant difference in pain and perceptual thresholds during tDCS ( p = .01, p = .025, respectively). Our findings did not support difference in pain and perception modulation by a single session anodal tDCS over M1 and DLPFC compared to the occipital cortex in healthy volunteers. The increase in all thresholds during tDCS, irrespective of conditions, and peripheral sensations, including an active control group, taken together, suggest a placebo effect of active tDCS. Future studies about pain and perception in healthy subjects should consider the level of experimental pain and a strong placebo effect.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ezgi Tuna Erdoğan
- Department of Physiology, School of Medicine, Koç University, Istanbul, Turkey
| | - Zeynep Küçük
- Department of Psychology, Faculty of Science and Literature, Halic University, Istanbul, Turkey
| | - Gökçer Eskikurt
- Department of Physiology, Faculty of Medicine, Istinye University, Istanbul, Turkey
| | - Adnan Kurt
- Department of Physiology, Istanbul Faculty of Medicine, Istanbul University, Istanbul, Turkey
| | - Numan Ermutlu
- Department of Physiology, Faculty of Medicine, Istanbul Health and Technology University, Istanbul, Turkey
| | - Sacit Karamürsel
- Department of Physiology, School of Medicine, Koç University, Istanbul, Turkey
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Li X, Lin X, Yao J, Chen S, Hu Y, Liu J, Jin R. Effects of High-Definition Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation Over the Primary Motor Cortex on Cold Pain Sensitivity Among Healthy Adults. Front Mol Neurosci 2022; 15:853509. [PMID: 35370540 PMCID: PMC8971908 DOI: 10.3389/fnmol.2022.853509] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/12/2022] [Accepted: 02/17/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Some clinical studies have shown promising effects of transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) over the primary motor cortex (M1) on pain relief. Nevertheless, a few studies reported no significant analgesic effects of tDCS, likely due to the complexity of clinical pain conditions. Human experimental pain models that utilize indices of pain in response to well-controlled noxious stimuli can avoid many confounds that are present in the clinical data. This study aimed to investigate the effects of high-definition tDCS (HD-tDCS) stimulation over M1 on sensitivity to experimental pain and assess whether these effects could be influenced by the pain-related cognitions and emotions. A randomized, double-blinded, crossover, and sham-controlled design was adopted. A total of 28 healthy participants received anodal, cathodal, or sham HD-tDCS over M1 (1 mA for 20 min) in different sessions, in which montage has the advantage of producing more focal stimulation. Using a cold pressor test, several indices reflecting the sensitivity to cold pain were measured immediately after HD-tDCS stimulation, such as cold pain threshold and tolerance and cold pain intensity and unpleasantness ratings. Results showed that only anodal HD-tDCS significantly increased cold pain threshold when compared with sham stimulation. Neither anodal nor cathodal HD-tDCS showed significant analgesic effects on cold pain tolerance, pain intensity, and unpleasantness ratings. Correlation analysis revealed that individuals that a had lower level of attentional bias to negative information benefited more from attenuating pain intensity rating induced by anodal HD-tDCS. Therefore, single-session anodal HD-tDCS modulates the sensory-discriminative aspect of pain perception as indexed by the increased pain threshold. In addition, the modulating effects of HD-tDCS on attenuating pain intensity to suprathreshold pain could be influenced by the participant’s negative attentional bias, which deserves to be taken into consideration in the clinical applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaoyun Li
- School of Psychology, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen, China
| | - Xinxin Lin
- School of Psychology, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen, China
| | - Junjie Yao
- School of Psychology, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen, China
| | - Shengxiong Chen
- Medical Rehabilitation Center, Shenzhen Prevention and Treatment Center for Occupational Diseases, Shenzhen, China
| | - Yu Hu
- Medical Rehabilitation Center, Shenzhen Prevention and Treatment Center for Occupational Diseases, Shenzhen, China
| | - Jiang Liu
- Department of Computer Science and Engineering, Southern University of Science and Technology, Shenzhen, China
| | - Richu Jin
- Department of Computer Science and Engineering, Southern University of Science and Technology, Shenzhen, China
- *Correspondence: Richu Jin,
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Kamal SM, Elhusseini NM, Sedik MF, Mohamad MF, Khedr EM, Kotb HI. Effect of transcranial direct current brain stimulation of the motor cortex on chemotherapy induced nausea and vomiting in female patients with breast cancer. PAIN MEDICINE 2021; 23:571-578. [PMID: 34677609 DOI: 10.1093/pm/pnab313] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/23/2020] [Revised: 08/17/2021] [Accepted: 09/02/2021] [Indexed: 11/13/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting (CINV) is a negative impact associated to chemotherapy and its management still challenging. This study aimed to research the additive impact of single-session tDCS (2 mA) over the motor cortex for 20 minutes before chemotherapy to antiemetic on CINV in female patients suffers from breast cancer who obtained highly emetogenic chemotherapy. STUDY LAYOUT Prospective randomized double-blind Sham-controlled study. SETTING Academic medical center. METHOD Sixty breast cancer patients prepared for chemotherapy treatment were selected and allocated randomly into two equal groups: a real and a sham group; tDCS became implemented over the primary motor area (M1) (2 mA) for 20 minutes. Patients' nausea was measured by cumulative index of nausea and visual analog scale for nausea (VAS-N), and vomiting by cumulative index of episodes of vomiting, and Edmonton symptoms Assessment Scale (ESAS) to assess symptoms like pain, malaise, and sense of well-being. Evaluation was done prestimulation and every 24 h for 72 h after end of infusion of chemotherapy. RESULTS Real tDCS group showed reduction of cumulative index of nausea (P < 0.001, F = 50), VAS-N (P < 0.001, F = 52) and for ESAS in malaise score (P < 0.001, F = 37.6) and sense of wellbeing score (P < 0.001, F = 25) than sham group. Six patients (20%) in the real group required rescue antiemtic therapy vs. 14 patients (46.7%) in the Sham group (P < 0.028). CONCLUSION Single session of real M1 tDCS could be suggested as an effective adjuvant maneuver in control of CINV in female patients suffers from breast cancer who obtained highly emetogenic chemotherapy. TRIAL REGISTRATION Clinical Trials.gov trial registry (identifier: NCT03405324).
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Affiliation(s)
- S M Kamal
- Associate professor in Anesthesia, intensive care and pain management department, South Egypt Cancer institute, Assiut University, Assiut, Egypt
| | - N M Elhusseini
- Resident of anesthesiology, intensive care and pain management, South Egypt Cancer institute, Assiut University, Assiut, Egypt
| | - M F Sedik
- Lecturer in medical oncology department, South Egypt Cancer institute, Assiut University, Assiut, Egypt
| | - M F Mohamad
- Associate professor in Anesthesia, intensive care and pain management department, South Egypt Cancer institute, Assiut University, Assiut, Egypt
| | - E M Khedr
- Professor of neurology and psychiatry, faculty of medicine, Assiut University, Assiut, Egypt
| | - H I Kotb
- Professor of anesthesiology, intensive care and pain management, Faculty of medicine, Assiut University, Assiut, Egypt
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Kandić M, Moliadze V, Andoh J, Flor H, Nees F. Brain Circuits Involved in the Development of Chronic Musculoskeletal Pain: Evidence From Non-invasive Brain Stimulation. Front Neurol 2021; 12:732034. [PMID: 34531819 PMCID: PMC8438114 DOI: 10.3389/fneur.2021.732034] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/28/2021] [Accepted: 08/06/2021] [Indexed: 12/03/2022] Open
Abstract
It has been well-documented that the brain changes in states of chronic pain. Less is known about changes in the brain that predict the transition from acute to chronic pain. Evidence from neuroimaging studies suggests a shift from brain regions involved in nociceptive processing to corticostriatal brain regions that are instrumental in the processing of reward and emotional learning in the transition to the chronic state. In addition, dysfunction in descending pain modulatory circuits encompassing the periaqueductal gray and the rostral anterior cingulate cortex may also be a key risk factor for pain chronicity. Although longitudinal imaging studies have revealed potential predictors of pain chronicity, their causal role has not yet been determined. Here we review evidence from studies that involve non-invasive brain stimulation to elucidate to what extent they may help to elucidate the brain circuits involved in pain chronicity. Especially, we focus on studies using non-invasive brain stimulation techniques [e.g., transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS), particularly its repetitive form (rTMS), transcranial alternating current stimulation (tACS), and transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS)] in the context of musculoskeletal pain chronicity. We focus on the role of the motor cortex because of its known contribution to sensory components of pain via thalamic inhibition, and the role of the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex because of its role on cognitive and affective processing of pain. We will also discuss findings from studies using experimentally induced prolonged pain and studies implicating the DLPFC, which may shed light on the earliest transition phase to chronicity. We propose that combined brain stimulation and imaging studies might further advance mechanistic models of the chronicity process and involved brain circuits. Implications and challenges for translating the research on mechanistic models of the development of chronic pain to clinical practice will also be addressed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mina Kandić
- Institute of Cognitive and Clinical Neuroscience, Central Institute of Mental Health, Medical Faculty Mannheim, Heidelberg University, Mannheim, Germany
| | - Vera Moliadze
- Institute of Medical Psychology and Medical Sociology, University Hospital Schleswig-Holstein, Kiel University, Kiel, Germany
| | - Jamila Andoh
- Institute of Cognitive and Clinical Neuroscience, Central Institute of Mental Health, Medical Faculty Mannheim, Heidelberg University, Mannheim, Germany
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Medical Faculty Mannheim, Central Institute of Mental Health, University of Heidelberg, Mannheim, Germany
| | - Herta Flor
- Institute of Cognitive and Clinical Neuroscience, Central Institute of Mental Health, Medical Faculty Mannheim, Heidelberg University, Mannheim, Germany
| | - Frauke Nees
- Institute of Cognitive and Clinical Neuroscience, Central Institute of Mental Health, Medical Faculty Mannheim, Heidelberg University, Mannheim, Germany
- Institute of Medical Psychology and Medical Sociology, University Hospital Schleswig-Holstein, Kiel University, Kiel, Germany
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McPhee ME, Graven-Nielsen T. Medial Prefrontal High-Definition Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation to Improve Pain Modulation in Chronic Low Back Pain: A Pilot Randomized Double-blinded Placebo-Controlled Crossover Trial. THE JOURNAL OF PAIN 2021; 22:952-967. [PMID: 33676009 DOI: 10.1016/j.jpain.2021.02.012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/14/2020] [Revised: 02/09/2021] [Accepted: 02/19/2021] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
Chronic low back pain (CLBP) is highly disabling, but often without identifiable source. Focus has been on impaired anti-nociceptive mechanisms contributing to pain maintenance, though methods of targeting this impairment remain limited. This randomised-controlled cross-over pilot trial used active versus sham medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC) high-definition transcranial direct current stimulation (HD-tDCS) for 3-consecutive days to improve descending pain inhibitory function. Twelve CLBP patients were included with an average visual analogue scale (VAS) pain intensity of 3.0 ± 1.5 and pain duration of 5.3 ± 2.6 years. Pressure pain thresholds (PPTs), conditioned pain modulation (CPM), and temporal summation of pain (TSP) assessed by cuff algometry, as well as pain symptomatology (intensity, unpleasantness, quality, disability) and related psychological features (pain catastrophizing, anxiety, affect), were assessed on Day1 before 3 consecutive days of HD-tDCS sessions (each 20 minutes), at 24-hours (Day 4) and 2-weeks (Day 21) following final HD-tDCS. Blinding was successful. No significant differences in psychophysical (PPT, CPM, TSP), symptomatology or psychological outcomes were observed between active and sham HD-tDCS on Day4 and Day21. CPM-effects at Day 1 negatively correlated with change in CPM-effect at Day4 following active HD-tDCS (P = .002). Lack of efficacy was attributed to several factors, not least that patients did not display impaired CPM at baseline. TRIAL REGISTRATION: : ClinicalTrials.gov (NCT03864822). PERSPECTIVE: Medial prefrontal HD-tDCS did not alter pain, psychological nor psychophysical outcomes, though correlational analysis suggested response may depend on baseline pain inhibitory efficacy, with best potential effects in patients with severe impairments in descending pain inhibitory mechanisms. Future work should focus on appropriate patient selection and optimising stimulation targeting.
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Affiliation(s)
- Megan E McPhee
- Center for Neuroplasticity and Pain (CNAP), Aalborg University, Denmark
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Molero-Chamizo A, Salas Sánchez Á, Álvarez Batista B, Cordero García C, Andújar Barroso R, Rivera-Urbina GN, Nitsche MA, Alameda Bailén JR. Bilateral Motor Cortex tDCS Effects on Post-Stroke Pain and Spasticity: A Three Cases Study. Front Pharmacol 2021; 12:624582. [PMID: 33967758 PMCID: PMC8098051 DOI: 10.3389/fphar.2021.624582] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/31/2020] [Accepted: 03/25/2021] [Indexed: 01/02/2023] Open
Abstract
Stroke patients frequently suffer from chronic limb pain, but well-suited treatment approaches have been not established so far. Transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) is a safe and non-invasive brain stimulation technique that alters cortical excitability, and it has been shown that motor cortex tDCS can reduce pain. Some data also suggest that spasticity may be improved by tDCS in post-stroke patients. Moreover, multiple sessions of tDCS have shown to induce neuroplastic changes with lasting beneficial effects in different neurological conditions. The aim of this pilot study was to explore the effect of multiple anodal tDCS (atDCS) sessions on upper limb pain and spasticity of stroke patients, using a within-subject, crossover, sham-controlled design. Brain damage was of similar extent in the three patients evaluated, although located in different hemispheres. The results showed a significant effect of 5 consecutive sessions of atDCS, compared to sham stimulation, on pain evaluated by the Adaptive Visual Analog Scales -AVAS-, and spasticity evaluated by the Fugl-Meyer scale. In two of the patients, pain was completely relieved and markedly reduced, respectively, only after verum tDCS. The pain improvement effect of atDCS in the third patient was considerably lower compared to the other two patients. Spasticity was significantly improved in one of the patients. The treatment was well-tolerated, and no serious adverse effects were reported. These findings suggest that multiple sessions of atDCS are a safe intervention for improving upper limb pain and spasticity in stroke patients, although the inter-individual variability is a limitation of the results. Further studies including longer follow-up periods, more representative patient samples and individualized stimulation protocols are required to demonstrate the efficacy and safety of tDCS for improving limb symptoms in these patients.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | | | | | - Michael A Nitsche
- Leibniz Research Centre for Working Environment and Human Factors, Dortmund, Germany.,Department of Neurology, University Medical Hospital Bergmannsheil, Bochum, Germany
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Fregni F, El-Hagrassy MM, Pacheco-Barrios K, Carvalho S, Leite J, Simis M, Brunelin J, Nakamura-Palacios EM, Marangolo P, Venkatasubramanian G, San-Juan D, Caumo W, Bikson M, Brunoni AR. Evidence-Based Guidelines and Secondary Meta-Analysis for the Use of Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation in Neurological and Psychiatric Disorders. Int J Neuropsychopharmacol 2021; 24:256-313. [PMID: 32710772 PMCID: PMC8059493 DOI: 10.1093/ijnp/pyaa051] [Citation(s) in RCA: 257] [Impact Index Per Article: 85.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/02/2020] [Accepted: 07/21/2020] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Transcranial direct current stimulation has shown promising clinical results, leading to increased demand for an evidence-based review on its clinical effects. OBJECTIVE We convened a team of transcranial direct current stimulation experts to conduct a systematic review of clinical trials with more than 1 session of stimulation testing: pain, Parkinson's disease motor function and cognition, stroke motor function and language, epilepsy, major depressive disorder, obsessive compulsive disorder, Tourette syndrome, schizophrenia, and drug addiction. METHODS Experts were asked to conduct this systematic review according to the search methodology from PRISMA guidelines. Recommendations on efficacy were categorized into Levels A (definitely effective), B (probably effective), C (possibly effective), or no recommendation. We assessed risk of bias for all included studies to confirm whether results were driven by potentially biased studies. RESULTS Although most of the clinical trials have been designed as proof-of-concept trials, some of the indications analyzed in this review can be considered as definitely effective (Level A), such as depression, and probably effective (Level B), such as neuropathic pain, fibromyalgia, migraine, post-operative patient-controlled analgesia and pain, Parkinson's disease (motor and cognition), stroke (motor), epilepsy, schizophrenia, and alcohol addiction. Assessment of bias showed that most of the studies had low risk of biases, and sensitivity analysis for bias did not change these results. Effect sizes vary from 0.01 to 0.70 and were significant in about 8 conditions, with the largest effect size being in postoperative acute pain and smaller in stroke motor recovery (nonsignificant when combined with robotic therapy). CONCLUSION All recommendations listed here are based on current published PubMed-indexed data. Despite high levels of evidence in some conditions, it must be underscored that effect sizes and duration of effects are often limited; thus, real clinical impact needs to be further determined with different study designs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Felipe Fregni
- Neuromodulation Center and Center for Clinical Research Learning, Spaulding Rehabilitation Hospital and Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Mirret M El-Hagrassy
- Neuromodulation Center and Center for Clinical Research Learning, Spaulding Rehabilitation Hospital and Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Kevin Pacheco-Barrios
- Neuromodulation Center and Center for Clinical Research Learning, Spaulding Rehabilitation Hospital and Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts
- Universidad San Ignacio de Loyola, Vicerrectorado de Investigación, Unidad de Investigación para la Generación y Síntesis de Evidencias en Salud, Lima, Peru
| | - Sandra Carvalho
- Neurotherapeutics and experimental Psychopathology Group (NEP), Psychological Neuroscience Laboratory, CIPsi, School of Psychology, University of Minho, Campus de Gualtar, Braga, Portugal
| | - Jorge Leite
- I2P-Portucalense Institute for Psychology, Universidade Portucalense, Porto, Portugal
| | - Marcel Simis
- Physical and Rehabilitation Medicine Institute of the University of Sao Paulo Medical School General Hospital, Sao Paulo, Brazil
| | - Jerome Brunelin
- CH Le Vinatier, PSYR2 team, Lyon Neuroscience Research Center, UCB Lyon 1, Bron, France
| | - Ester Miyuki Nakamura-Palacios
- Laboratory of Cognitive Sciences and Neuropsychopharmacology, Department of Physiological Sciences, Federal University of Espírito Santo, Espírito Santo, Brasil (Dr Nakamura-Palacios)
| | - Paola Marangolo
- Dipartimento di Studi Umanistici, Università Federico II, Naples, Italy
- IRCCS Fondazione Santa Lucia, Rome, Italy
| | - Ganesan Venkatasubramanian
- Translational Psychiatry Laboratory, Department of Psychiatry, National Institute of Mental Health and Neurosciences, Bangalore, India
| | - Daniel San-Juan
- Neurophysiology Department, National Institute of Neurology and Neurosurgery Manuel Velasco Suárez, Mexico City, Mexico
| | - Wolnei Caumo
- Post-Graduate Program in Medical Sciences, School of Medicine, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul (UFRGS) Surgery Department, School of Medicine, UFRGS; Pain and Palliative Care Service at Hospital de Clínicas de Porto Alegre (HCPA) Laboratory of Pain and Neuromodulation at HCPA, Porto Alegre, Brazil
| | - Marom Bikson
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, The City College of New York of CUNY, New York, New York
| | - André R Brunoni
- Service of Interdisciplinary Neuromodulation, Laboratory of Neurosciences (LIM-27), Department and Institute of Psychiatry & Department of Internal Medicine, Faculdade de Medicina da Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
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Larrivée S, Balg F, Léonard G, Bédard S, Tousignant M, Boissy P. Transcranial direct current stimulation (a-tCDS) after subacromial injections in patients with subacromial pain syndrome: a randomized controlled pilot study. BMC Musculoskelet Disord 2021; 22:265. [PMID: 33706729 PMCID: PMC7948354 DOI: 10.1186/s12891-021-04139-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/01/2020] [Accepted: 02/28/2021] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Subacromial pain syndrome (SAPS) is a common complaint in orthopaedics. Subacromial corticosteroid injections (CSI) can relieve pain in the short term. Anodal transcranial direct current stimulation (a-tDCS) has been used for symptomatic pain relief in a variety of chronic pain conditions. The aim of this pilot study was to assess whether the application a-tDCS could enhance the symptomatic relief provided by CSI in patients affected by SAPS. METHODS Thirty-eight participants (18 to 65-year-old) suffering from SAPS were recruited to have a CSI and randomly allocated to receive, 1 weeks post CSI, real a-tDCS (r-tDCS), sham tDCS (s-tDCS) or no intervention (Control). Upper limb function was measured 1 week prior to the CSI, at the 2- and 4-week follow-ups using self-administered questionnaires and physical measures. Self-reported pain and activity during each day were logged by the participants using visual analog scales (VAS). Differences between groups were tested using repeated-measures ANOVAs. RESULTS Pain VAS and the Single Assessment Numeric Evaluation scale (SANE) showed significant improvement from baseline 2 weeks and 4 weeks after CSI in all groups (p < 0.05). There were no significant group X time interaction 2 weeks following tDCS treatment in any of the variables. CONCLUSION All groups showed significant improvement in pain VAS and SANE scores following the CSI. One session of a-tDCS treatment 2 weeks following CSI did not result in any additive or potentializing effects when compared to a s-tDCS or a control group. TRIAL REGISTRATION ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT03967574 . Registered 30 May 2019 - Retrospectively registered.
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Affiliation(s)
- Samuel Larrivée
- Research Center on Aging CIUSSS Estrie CHUS, Sherbrooke, QC, Canada
- Department of Surgery, Division of Orthopedics, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Université de Sherbrooke, Sherbrooke, QC, Canada
| | - Frédéric Balg
- Department of Surgery, Division of Orthopedics, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Université de Sherbrooke, Sherbrooke, QC, Canada
- Research Center CRCHUS, CIUSSS Estrie CHUS, Sherbrooke, QC, Canada
| | - Guillaume Léonard
- Research Center on Aging CIUSSS Estrie CHUS, Sherbrooke, QC, Canada
- School of Rehabilitation, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Université de Sherbrooke, Sherbrooke, QC, Canada
| | - Sonia Bédard
- Research Center CRCHUS, CIUSSS Estrie CHUS, Sherbrooke, QC, Canada
| | - Michel Tousignant
- Research Center on Aging CIUSSS Estrie CHUS, Sherbrooke, QC, Canada
- School of Rehabilitation, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Université de Sherbrooke, Sherbrooke, QC, Canada
| | - Patrick Boissy
- Research Center on Aging CIUSSS Estrie CHUS, Sherbrooke, QC, Canada.
- Department of Surgery, Division of Orthopedics, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Université de Sherbrooke, Sherbrooke, QC, Canada.
- Research Center CRCHUS, CIUSSS Estrie CHUS, Sherbrooke, QC, Canada.
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12
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De Souza CG, Pegado R, Costa J, Morya E, Baptista AF, Unal G, Bikson M, Okano AH. Alternate sessions of transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) reduce chronic pain in women affected by chikungunya. A randomized clinical trial. Brain Stimul 2021; 14:541-548. [PMID: 33667699 DOI: 10.1016/j.brs.2021.02.015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/09/2020] [Revised: 10/28/2020] [Accepted: 02/21/2021] [Indexed: 12/27/2022] Open
Abstract
CONTEXT Thousands of people worldwide have been infected by the chikungunya virus (CHIKV), and the persistence of joint pain symptoms has been considered the main problem. Neuromodulation techniques such as transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) act on brain areas involved in the processing of chronic pain. It was previously demonstrated that tDCS for five consecutive days significantly reduced pain in the chronic phase of chikungunya (CHIK). OBJECTIVE To analyze the effect of alternate tDCS sessions on pain and functional capacity in individuals affected by CHIK. METHODS In a randomized clinical trial, 58 women in the chronic phase of CHIK were divided into two groups: active-tDCS (M1-S0, 2 mA, 20 min) and sham-tDCS. The Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) and the Brief Pain Inventory (BPI) were used to assess pain, while the Health Assessment Questionnaire (HAQ) assessed functional capacity. These scales were used before and after six sessions of tDCS in nonconsecutive days on the primary motor cortex, and at follow-up consultation 7 and 15 days after the last session. A repeated measures mixed-model ANOVA was used for comparison between groups (significant p-values < 0.05). RESULTS A significant pain reduction (Z [3, 171] = 14.303; p < 0.0001) was observed in the tDCS group compared to the sham group; no significant difference in functional capacity was observed (Z [1.57] = 2.797; p = 0.1). CONCLUSION Our results suggest that six nonconsecutive sessions of active tDCS on M1 reduce pain in chronic CHIKV arthralgia.
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Affiliation(s)
- Clecio Gabriel De Souza
- Federal University of Rio Grande Do Norte, Postgraduate Program in Rehabilitation Sciences, Santa Cruz, RN, Brazil; Graduate Program in Collective Health, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Norte, Natal, RN, Brazil.
| | - Rodrigo Pegado
- Federal University of Rio Grande Do Norte, Postgraduate Program in Rehabilitation Sciences, Santa Cruz, RN, Brazil; NAPeN Network (Rede de Núcleos de Assistência e Pesquisa em Neuromodulação), Brazil.
| | - Jardson Costa
- Faculty Estacio of Rio Grande Do Norte, Natal, RN, Brazil
| | - Edgard Morya
- Edmond and Lily Safra International Neuroscience Institute, Santos Dumont Institute, Macaíba, RN, Brazil; Brazilian Institute of Neuroscience and Neurotechnology (BRAINN/CEPID-FAPESP), University of Campinas, Campinas, São Paulo, Brazil; NAPeN Network (Rede de Núcleos de Assistência e Pesquisa em Neuromodulação), Brazil.
| | - Abrahão Fontes Baptista
- Universidade Federal do ABC, Center for Mathematics, Computing and Cognition, São Bernardo do Campo, SP, Brazil; Brazilian Institute of Neuroscience and Neurotechnology (BRAINN/CEPID-FAPESP), University of Campinas, Campinas, São Paulo, Brazil; NAPeN Network (Rede de Núcleos de Assistência e Pesquisa em Neuromodulação), Brazil
| | - Gozde Unal
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, The City College of New York, NY, USA
| | - Marom Bikson
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, The City College of New York, NY, USA
| | - Alexandre Hideki Okano
- Universidade Federal do ABC, Center for Mathematics, Computing and Cognition, São Bernardo do Campo, SP, Brazil; Brazilian Institute of Neuroscience and Neurotechnology (BRAINN/CEPID-FAPESP), University of Campinas, Campinas, São Paulo, Brazil; NAPeN Network (Rede de Núcleos de Assistência e Pesquisa em Neuromodulação), Brazil.
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Brasil-Neto JP, Iannone A, Caixeta FV, Cavendish BA, de Mello Cruz AP, Buratto LG. Acute offline transcranial direct current stimulation does not change pain or anxiety produced by the cold pressor test. Neurosci Lett 2020; 736:135300. [PMID: 32781010 DOI: 10.1016/j.neulet.2020.135300] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/16/2020] [Revised: 07/13/2020] [Accepted: 08/06/2020] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) over the primary motor cortex (M1) has an antalgic effect on acute experimental pain in healthy volunteers. Many published studies have used online stimulation (i.e., tDCS performed during painful stimulation). On the other hand, daily tDCS sessions have been proposed as a therapy for chronic pain (offline tDCS). In such cases, the therapeutic potential depends on the possible aftereffects of each tDCS session. We set out to investigate whether a single tDCS session before application of a classical experimental pain paradigm (the Cold Pressor Test, CPT) would be capable of modulating physiological measures of anxiety as well as pain perception. tDCS was applied to 30 healthy volunteers, 18-28 years old (mean 18.5), with the anode positioned over either the left M1 or the left dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (l-DLPFC), which has been linked to the affective aspects of experienced pain, including anxiety. All volunteers underwent the CPT procedure before and after a tDCS session. Real 2 mA tDCS sessions for 20 min were compared to sham stimulations. No significant difference was found for any variable after real tDCS sessions when compared to the sham stimulations. This result suggests that effective offline tDCS for chronic pain might have different mechanisms of action. Cumulative effects, functional targeting and the unintended simultaneous stimulation of both M1 and the l-DLPFC are likely responsible for the therapeutic effects of tDCS sessions in the clinical setting.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joaquim P Brasil-Neto
- Laboratory of Neuroscience and Behavior, Department of Physiological Sciences, Institute of Biological Sciences, University of Brasilia, Brazil.
| | - Aline Iannone
- Laboratory of Neuroscience and Behavior, Department of Physiological Sciences, Institute of Biological Sciences, University of Brasilia, Brazil
| | - Fabio Viegas Caixeta
- Laboratory of Neuroscience and Behavior, Department of Physiological Sciences, Institute of Biological Sciences, University of Brasilia, Brazil
| | - Beatriz Araújo Cavendish
- Institute of Psychology, Department of Basic Psychological Processes, University of Brasilia, Brazil
| | | | - Luciano Grüdtner Buratto
- Institute of Psychology, Department of Basic Psychological Processes, University of Brasilia, Brazil
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14
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Alwardat M, Pisani A, Etoom M, Carpenedo R, Chinè E, Dauri M, Leonardis F, Natoli S. Is transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) effective for chronic low back pain? A systematic review and meta-analysis. J Neural Transm (Vienna) 2020; 127:1257-1270. [DOI: 10.1007/s00702-020-02223-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/08/2020] [Accepted: 06/28/2020] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
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15
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Rezasoltani Z, Azizi S, Najafi S, Sedighi S, Movahed ME, Dadarkhah A. Transcranial direct current stimulation for nonspecific low back pain: double-blind randomized sham-controlled trial. REHABILITACJA MEDYCZNA 2019. [DOI: 10.5604/01.3001.0013.4195] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Introduction: Low back pain is recognized as a major cause of morbidity worldwide. Between 70 and 80% of adults experience at least one occasion of low back pain with duration of 3 months or longer in their lifetime. Aside from the classic treatment methods, there are other new techniques yet to be clinically investigated. Transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) has been reported to alleviate pain by affecting the central nervous system. To date only a small number of studies have been published on the effects of tDCS on chronic low back pain. Some of these were pilot studies and others were low-powered in terms of their inference. Therefore the clinical application of tDCS requires further careful evaluation. Objective: To assess the efficacy of transcranial direct current stimulation for treatment of chronic nonspecific low back pain. Materials and methods: We carried out a double-blind randomized sham-controlled trial in a University Hospital. In total 70 people (15 women) with low back pain were randomized to either active or sham stimulation. The primary outcome was intensity of low back pain on the Visual Analog Scale. We also used the Oswestry Disability Questionnaire to evaluate the effects of back pain on daily activities. For the active stimulation group we administered 2 mA tDCS, 20 minutes for each session, once daily, 5 days per week for 2 weeks, totaling 10 sessions. For the sham stimulation group a similar program was followed with no stimulation. Both groups used analgesic medication. Results: Within-group analysis showed that an initial decrease in pain intensity was significant in both groups (both p < 0.001). However, pain reduction became stable only in the active treatment group. There was a significant difference in the pattern of change in mean pain scores in favor of tDCS (p < 0.001). Active treatment also significantly reduced disability scores (all p values < 0.001), whereas participants in the sham treatment group did not experience functional recovery. Mixed ANOVA indicated that the pattern of change in mean scores of disability differed between the two groups throughout the study course, in favor of active stimulation (p < 0.001). Conclusion: Transcranial direct current stimulation is an effective and safe initial treatment for chronic nonspecific low back pain, and the benefits remain for at least several months.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zahra Rezasoltani
- Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, School of Medicine, Aja University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Sirous Azizi
- Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, School of Medicine, Aja University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Sharif Najafi
- Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, School of Medicine, Aja University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Samaneh Sedighi
- Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, School of Medicine, Aja University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Maysam Elahi Movahed
- Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, School of Medicine, Aja University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Afsaneh Dadarkhah
- Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, School of Medicine, Aja University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
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16
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Transcranial direct current stimulation over the opercular somatosensory region does not influence experimentally induced pain: a triple blind, sham-controlled study. Neuroreport 2018; 28:158-162. [PMID: 27984542 PMCID: PMC5287425 DOI: 10.1097/wnr.0000000000000723] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
Transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) over the opercular somatosensory region (OP), which includes the secondary somatosensory cortex and the insular cortex, suppresses pain sensation. However, whether transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) over the OP has a similar effect on pain sensation remains unknown. We examined whether pain sensation would be suppressed by tDCS over the OP. Our experiment with a triple-blind, sham-controlled, crossover design involved 12 healthy participants. Participants were asked to rate their subjective pain intensity during and after three types of bihemispheric tDCS: right anodal/left cathodal OP tDCS, left anodal/right cathodal OP tDCS (2 mA, 12 min), and sham tDCS (15 s). Pain stimuli were alternately applied to the dorsum of each index finger using intraepidermal electrical stimulation. We observed no significant effect of tDCS over the OP on the perception of experimentally induced pain. Subjective pain intensity did not differ significantly between the three tDCS conditions. The present null results have crucial implications for the selection of optimal stimulation regions and parameters for clinical pain treatment.
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17
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Lopes TDS, Silva WDS, Ribeiro SB, Figueiredo CA, Campbell FQ, Daltro GDC, Valenzuela A, Montoya P, Lucena RDCS, Baptista AF. Does Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation Combined with Peripheral Electrical Stimulation Have an Additive Effect in the Control of Hip Joint Osteonecrosis Pain Associated with Sickle Cell Disease? A Protocol for a One-Session Double Blind, Block-Randomized Clinical Trial. Front Hum Neurosci 2017; 11:633. [PMID: 29326577 PMCID: PMC5742338 DOI: 10.3389/fnhum.2017.00633] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/03/2017] [Accepted: 12/11/2017] [Indexed: 12/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Chronic pain in Sickle Cell Disease (SCD) is probably related to maladaptive plasticity of brain areas involved in nociceptive processing. Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation (tDCS) and Peripheral Electrical Stimulation (PES) can modulate cortical excitability and help to control chronic pain. Studies have shown that combined use of tDCS and PES has additive effects. However, to date, no study investigated additive effects of these neuromodulatory techniques on chronic pain in patients with SCD. This protocol describes a study aiming to assess whether combined use of tDCS and PES more effectively alleviate pain in patients with SCD compared to single use of each technique. The study consists of a one-session double blind, block-randomized clinical trial (NCT02813629) in which 128 participants with SCD and femoral osteonecrosis will be enrolled. Stepwise procedures will occur on two independent days. On day 1, participants will be screened for eligibility criteria. On day 2, data collection will occur in four stages: sample characterization, baseline assessment, intervention, and post-intervention assessment. These procedures will last ~5 h. Participants will be divided into two groups according to homozygous for S allele (HbSS) (n = 64) and heterozygous for S and C alleles (HbSC) (n = 64) genotypes. Participants in each group will be randomly assigned, equally, to one of the following interventions: (1) active tDCS + active PES; (2) active tDCS + sham PES; (3) sham tDCS + active PES; and (4) sham tDCS + sham PES. Active tDCS intervention will consist of 20 min 2 mA anodic stimulation over the primary motor cortex contralateral to the most painful hip. Active PES intervention will consist of 30 min sensory electrical stimulation at 100 Hz over the most painful hip. The main study outcome will be pain intensity, measured by a Visual Analogue Scale. In addition, electroencephalographic power density, cortical maps of the gluteus maximus muscle elicited by Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS), serum levels of Brain-derived Neurotrophic Factor (BDNF), and Tumor Necrosis Factor (TNF) will be assessed as secondary outcomes. Data will be analyzed using ANOVA of repeated measures, controlling for confounding variables.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tiago da Silva Lopes
- Health and Functionality Study Group, Federal University of Bahia, Salvador, Brazil.,Graduate Program in Medicine and Health, Federal University of Bahia, Salvador, Brazil
| | - Wellington Dos Santos Silva
- Health and Functionality Study Group, Federal University of Bahia, Salvador, Brazil.,Graduate Program in Medicine and Health, Federal University of Bahia, Salvador, Brazil.,Health Section, Adventist Faculty of Bahia, Cachoeira, Brazil
| | - Sânzia B Ribeiro
- Health and Functionality Study Group, Federal University of Bahia, Salvador, Brazil.,Health Section, Adventist Faculty of Bahia, Cachoeira, Brazil
| | | | - Fernanda Q Campbell
- Health and Functionality Study Group, Federal University of Bahia, Salvador, Brazil
| | | | | | - Pedro Montoya
- Research Institute of Health Sciences (IUNICS), University of the Balearic Islands, Palma, Spain
| | - Rita de C S Lucena
- Health and Functionality Study Group, Federal University of Bahia, Salvador, Brazil.,Graduate Program in Medicine and Health, Federal University of Bahia, Salvador, Brazil
| | - Abrahão F Baptista
- Health and Functionality Study Group, Federal University of Bahia, Salvador, Brazil.,Graduate Program in Medicine and Health, Federal University of Bahia, Salvador, Brazil.,Center for Mathematics, Computation and Cognition, Federal University of ABC, São Bernardo do Campo, Brazil
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18
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Hazime FA, Baptista AF, de Freitas DG, Monteiro RL, Maretto RL, Hasue RH, João SMA. Treating low back pain with combined cerebral and peripheral electrical stimulation: A randomized, double-blind, factorial clinical trial. Eur J Pain 2017; 21:1132-1143. [PMID: 28440001 DOI: 10.1002/ejp.1037] [Citation(s) in RCA: 41] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 02/02/2017] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Recent evidence suggests that chronic low back pain is associated with plastic changes in the brain that can be modified by neuromodulation strategies. This study investigated the efficacy of transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) combined simultaneously with peripheral electrical stimulation (PES) for pain relief, disability and global perception in patients with chronic low back pain (CLBP). METHODS Ninety-two patients with CLBP were randomized to receive 12 sessions on nonconsecutive days of anodal tDCS (primary motor cortex, M1), 100 Hz sensory PES (lumbar spine), tDCS + PES or sham tDCS + PES. Pain intensity (11-point numerical rating scale), disability and global perception were applied before treatment and four weeks, three months and six months post randomization. RESULTS A two points reduction was achieved only by the tDCS + PES (mean reduction [MR] = -2.6, CI95% = -4.4 to -0.9) and PES alone (MR = -2.2, CI95% = -3.9 to -0.4) compared with the sham group, but not of tDCS alone (MR = -1.7, CI95% = -3.4 to -0.0). In addition to maintaining the analgesic effect for up to three months, tDCS + PES had a higher proportion of respondents in different cutoff points. Global perception was improved at four weeks and maintained three months after treatment only with tDCS + PES. None of the treatments improved disability and the affective aspect of pain consistently with pain reduction. CONCLUSION The results suggest that tDCS + PES and PES alone are effective in relieving CLBP in the short term. However, only tDCS + PES induced a long-lasting analgesic effect. tDCS alone showed no clinical meaningful pain relief. SIGNIFICANCE Transcranial direct current stimulation combined simultaneously with PES leads to a significant and clinical pain relief that can last up to three months in chronic low back pain patients. For this article, a commentary is available at the Wiley Online Library.
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Affiliation(s)
- F A Hazime
- Department of Physical Therapy, Federal University of Piauí, Parnaíba, Brazil.,Department of Physical Therapy, Speech-Language and Hearing Science and Occupational Therapy of the Medical School, University of São Paulo, Brazil.,Postgraduate Program in Rehabilitation Sciences of the Medical School, University of São Paulo, Brazil
| | - A F Baptista
- Department of Biomorphology, Federal University of Bahia, Salvador, Brazil
| | - D G de Freitas
- Department of Physical Therapy, Irmandade Santa Casa de Misericórdia de São Paulo, Brazil
| | - R L Monteiro
- Department of Physical Therapy, Speech-Language and Hearing Science and Occupational Therapy of the Medical School, University of São Paulo, Brazil.,Postgraduate Program in Rehabilitation Sciences of the Medical School, University of São Paulo, Brazil.,Department of Physical Therapy, Federal University of Amapá, Macapá, Brazil
| | - R L Maretto
- Department of Physical Therapy, Irmandade Santa Casa de Misericórdia de São Paulo, Brazil
| | - R H Hasue
- Department of Physical Therapy, Speech-Language and Hearing Science and Occupational Therapy of the Medical School, University of São Paulo, Brazil.,Postgraduate Program in Rehabilitation Sciences of the Medical School, University of São Paulo, Brazil
| | - S M A João
- Department of Physical Therapy, Speech-Language and Hearing Science and Occupational Therapy of the Medical School, University of São Paulo, Brazil.,Postgraduate Program in Rehabilitation Sciences of the Medical School, University of São Paulo, Brazil
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20
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Evidence-based guidelines on the therapeutic use of transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS). Clin Neurophysiol 2016; 128:56-92. [PMID: 27866120 DOI: 10.1016/j.clinph.2016.10.087] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1049] [Impact Index Per Article: 131.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/24/2016] [Revised: 10/18/2016] [Accepted: 10/20/2016] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
A group of European experts was commissioned by the European Chapter of the International Federation of Clinical Neurophysiology to gather knowledge about the state of the art of the therapeutic use of transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) from studies published up until September 2016, regarding pain, Parkinson's disease, other movement disorders, motor stroke, poststroke aphasia, multiple sclerosis, epilepsy, consciousness disorders, Alzheimer's disease, tinnitus, depression, schizophrenia, and craving/addiction. The evidence-based analysis included only studies based on repeated tDCS sessions with sham tDCS control procedure; 25 patients or more having received active treatment was required for Class I, while a lower number of 10-24 patients was accepted for Class II studies. Current evidence does not allow making any recommendation of Level A (definite efficacy) for any indication. Level B recommendation (probable efficacy) is proposed for: (i) anodal tDCS of the left primary motor cortex (M1) (with right orbitofrontal cathode) in fibromyalgia; (ii) anodal tDCS of the left dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC) (with right orbitofrontal cathode) in major depressive episode without drug resistance; (iii) anodal tDCS of the right DLPFC (with left DLPFC cathode) in addiction/craving. Level C recommendation (possible efficacy) is proposed for anodal tDCS of the left M1 (or contralateral to pain side, with right orbitofrontal cathode) in chronic lower limb neuropathic pain secondary to spinal cord lesion. Conversely, Level B recommendation (probable inefficacy) is conferred on the absence of clinical effects of: (i) anodal tDCS of the left temporal cortex (with right orbitofrontal cathode) in tinnitus; (ii) anodal tDCS of the left DLPFC (with right orbitofrontal cathode) in drug-resistant major depressive episode. It remains to be clarified whether the probable or possible therapeutic effects of tDCS are clinically meaningful and how to optimally perform tDCS in a therapeutic setting. In addition, the easy management and low cost of tDCS devices allow at home use by the patient, but this might raise ethical and legal concerns with regard to potential misuse or overuse. We must be careful to avoid inappropriate applications of this technique by ensuring rigorous training of the professionals and education of the patients.
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Bocci T, Santarcangelo E, Vannini B, Torzini A, Carli G, Ferrucci R, Priori A, Valeriani M, Sartucci F. Cerebellar direct current stimulation modulates pain perception in humans. Restor Neurol Neurosci 2016; 33:597-609. [PMID: 25777683 DOI: 10.3233/rnn-140453] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
PURPOSE The cerebellum is involved in a wide number of integrative functions, but its role in pain experience and in the nociceptive information processing is poorly understood. In healthy volunteers we evaluated the effects of transcranial cerebellar direct current stimulation (tcDCS) by studying the changes in the perceptive threshold, pain intensity at given stimulation intensities (VAS:0-10) and laser evoked potentials (LEPs) variables (N1 and N2/P2 amplitudes and latencies). METHODS Fifteen subjects were studied before and after anodal, cathodal and sham tcDCS. LEPs were obtained using a neodymium:yttrium-aluminium-perovskite (Nd:YAP) laser and recorded from the dorsum of the left hand. VAS was evaluated by delivering laser pulses at two different intensities, respectively two and three times the perceptive threshold. RESULTS Cathodal polarization dampened significantly the perceptive threshold and increased the VAS score, while the anodal one had opposite effects. Cathodal tcDCS increased significantly the N1 and N2/P2 amplitudes and decreased their latencies, whereas anodal tcDCS elicited opposite effects. Motor thresholds assessed through transcranial magnetic stimulation were not affected by cerebellar stimulation. CONCLUSIONS tcDCS modulates pain perception and its cortical correlates. Since it is effective on both N1 and N2/P2 components, we speculate that the cerebellum engagement in pain processing modulates the activity of both somatosensory and cingulate cortices. Present findings prompt investigation of the cerebellar direct current polarization as a possible novel and safe therapeutic tool in chronic pain patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tommaso Bocci
- Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, Unit of Neurology, Pisa University Medical School, Pisa, Italy.,Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences and Neuroscience, University of Siena, Siena, Italy
| | - Enrica Santarcangelo
- Department of Translational Research and New Technologies in Medicine and Surgery, University of Pisa, Pisa, Italy
| | - Beatrice Vannini
- Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, Unit of Neurology, Pisa University Medical School, Pisa, Italy
| | - Antonio Torzini
- Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences and Neuroscience, University of Siena, Siena, Italy.,Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, Cisanello Neurology Unit, Pisa University Medical School, Pisa, Italy
| | - Giancarlo Carli
- Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences and Neuroscience, University of Siena, Siena, Italy
| | - Roberta Ferrucci
- Department of Neurological Sciences, University of Milan, Fondazione IRCCS Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, Milan, Italy
| | - Alberto Priori
- Department of Neurological Sciences, University of Milan, Fondazione IRCCS Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, Milan, Italy
| | - Massimiliano Valeriani
- Division of Neurology, Ospedale Bambino Gesù, IRCCS, Rome, Italy.,Center for Sensory-Motor Interaction, Aalborg University, Aalborg, Denmark
| | - Ferdinando Sartucci
- Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, Unit of Neurology, Pisa University Medical School, Pisa, Italy.,Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, Cisanello Neurology Unit, Pisa University Medical School, Pisa, Italy
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Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation Modulates Neurogenesis and Microglia Activation in the Mouse Brain. Stem Cells Int 2016; 2016:2715196. [PMID: 27403166 PMCID: PMC4925996 DOI: 10.1155/2016/2715196] [Citation(s) in RCA: 55] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/31/2016] [Revised: 05/14/2016] [Accepted: 05/24/2016] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) has been suggested as an adjuvant tool to promote recovery of function after stroke, but the mechanisms of its action to date remain poorly understood. Moreover, studies aimed at unraveling those mechanisms have essentially been limited to the rat, where tDCS activates resident microglia as well as endogenous neural stem cells. Here we studied the effects of tDCS on microglia activation and neurogenesis in the mouse brain. Male wild-type mice were subjected to multisession tDCS of either anodal or cathodal polarity; sham-stimulated mice served as control. Activated microglia in the cerebral cortex and neuroblasts generated in the subventricular zone as the major neural stem cell niche were assessed immunohistochemically. Multisession tDCS at a sublesional charge density led to a polarity-dependent downregulation of the constitutive expression of Iba1 by microglia in the mouse cortex. In contrast, both anodal and, to an even greater extent, cathodal tDCS induced neurogenesis from the subventricular zone. Data suggest that tDCS elicits its action through multifacetted mechanisms, including immunomodulation and neurogenesis, and thus support the idea of using tDCS to induce regeneration and to promote recovery of function. Furthermore, data suggest that the effects of tDCS may be animal- and polarity-specific.
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Luedtke K, Rushton A, Wright C, Jürgens T, Polzer A, Mueller G, May A. Effectiveness of transcranial direct current stimulation preceding cognitive behavioural management for chronic low back pain: sham controlled double blinded randomised controlled trial. BMJ 2015; 350:h1640. [PMID: 25883244 PMCID: PMC4399394 DOI: 10.1136/bmj.h1640] [Citation(s) in RCA: 63] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 02/23/2015] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To evaluate the effectiveness of transcranial direct current stimulation alone and in combination with cognitive behavioural management in patients with non-specific chronic low back pain. DESIGN Double blind parallel group randomised controlled trial with six months' follow-up conducted May 2011-March 2013. Participants, physiotherapists, assessors, and analyses were blinded to group allocation. SETTING Interdisciplinary chronic pain centre. PARTICIPANTS 135 participants with non-specific chronic low back pain >12 weeks were recruited from 225 patients assessed for eligibility. INTERVENTION Participants were randomised to receive anodal (20 minutes to motor cortex at 2 mA) or sham transcranial direct current stimulation (identical electrode position, stimulator switched off after 30 seconds) for five consecutive days immediately before cognitive behavioural management (four week multidisciplinary programme of 80 hours). MAIN OUTCOMES MEASURES Two primary outcome measures of pain intensity (0-100 visual analogue scale) and disability (Oswestry disability index) were evaluated at two primary endpoints after stimulation and after cognitive behavioural management. RESULTS Analyses of covariance with baseline values (pain or disability) as covariates showed that transcranial direct current stimulation was ineffective for the reduction of pain (difference between groups on visual analogue scale 1 mm (99% confidence interval -8.69 mm to 6.3 mm; P=0.68)) and disability (difference between groups 1 point (-1.73 to 1.98; P=0.86)) and did not influence the outcome of cognitive behavioural management (difference between group 3 mm (-10.32 mm to 6.73 mm); P=0.58; difference between groups on Oswestry disability index 0 point (-2.45 to 2.62); P=0.92). The stimulation was well tolerated with minimal transitory side effects. CONCLUSIONS This results of this trial on the effectiveness of transcranial direct current stimulation for the reduction of pain and disability do not support its clinical use for managing non-specific chronic low back pain.Trial registration Current controlled trials ISRCTN89874874.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kerstin Luedtke
- Department of Systems Neuroscience, University Medical Centre Hamburg-Eppendorf, Martinistr. 52, 20246 Hamburg, Germany
| | - Alison Rushton
- School of Sport, Exercise and Rehabilitation Sciences, College of Life and Environmental Sciences, University of Birmingham, Edgbaston, Birmingham, B15 2TT, UK
| | - Christine Wright
- School of Sport, Exercise and Rehabilitation Sciences, College of Life and Environmental Sciences, University of Birmingham, Edgbaston, Birmingham, B15 2TT, UK
| | - Tim Jürgens
- Department of Systems Neuroscience, University Medical Centre Hamburg-Eppendorf, Martinistr. 52, 20246 Hamburg, Germany
| | - Astrid Polzer
- Department of Systems Neuroscience, University Medical Centre Hamburg-Eppendorf, Martinistr. 52, 20246 Hamburg, Germany
| | - Gerd Mueller
- Backpain Clinic "Am Michel", Ludwig-Erhard-Str.18, 20459 Hamburg, Germany
| | - Arne May
- Department of Systems Neuroscience, University Medical Centre Hamburg-Eppendorf, Martinistr. 52, 20246 Hamburg, Germany
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da Silva NRJ, Laste G, Deitos A, Stefani LC, Cambraia-Canto G, Torres ILS, Brunoni AR, Fregni F, Caumo W. Combined neuromodulatory interventions in acute experimental pain: assessment of melatonin and non-invasive brain stimulation. Front Behav Neurosci 2015; 9:77. [PMID: 25873871 PMCID: PMC4379934 DOI: 10.3389/fnbeh.2015.00077] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/11/2014] [Accepted: 03/11/2015] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) and melatonin can effectively treat pain. Given their potentially complementary mechanisms of action, their combination could have a synergistic effect. Thus, we tested the hypothesis that compared to the control condition and melatonin alone, tDCS combined with melatonin would have a greater effect on pain modulatory effect, as assessed by quantitative sensory testing (QST) and by the pain level during the Conditioned Pain Modulation (CPM)-task. Furthermore, the combined treatment would have a greater cortical excitability effect as indicated by the transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) and on the serum BDNF level. Healthy males (n = 20), (aged 18-40 years), in a blinded, placebo-controlled, crossover, clinical trial, were randomized into three groups: sublingual melatonin (0.25 mg/kg) + a-tDCS, melatonin (0.25 mg/kg) + sham-(s)-tDCS, or sublingual placebo+sham-(s)-tDCS. Anodal stimulation (2 mA, 20 min) was applied over the primary motor cortex. There was a significant difference in the heat pain threshold (°C) for melatonin+a-tDCS vs. placebo+s-tDCS (mean difference: 4.86, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.9 to 8.63) and melatonin+s-tDCS vs. placebo+s-tDCS (mean: 5.16, 95% CI: 0.84 to 8.36). There was no difference between melatonin+s-tDCS and melatonin+a-tDCS (mean difference: 0.29, 95% CI: -3.72 to 4.23). The mean change from the baseline on amplitude of motor evocate potential (MEP) was significantly higher in the melatonin+a-tDCS (-19.96% ± 5.2) compared with melatonin+s-tDCS group (-1.36% ± 5.35) and with placebo+s-tDCS group (3.61% ± 10.48), respectively (p < 0.05 for both comparisons). While melatonin alone or combined with a-tDCS did not significantly affect CPM task result, and serum BDNF level. The melatonin effectively reduced pain; however, its association with a-tDCS did not present an additional modulatory effect on acute induced pain.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nádia Regina Jardim da Silva
- Post-Graduate Program in Medical Sciences, School of Medicine, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul (UFRGS)Porto Alegre, Brazil
| | - Gabriela Laste
- Post-Graduate Program in Medical Sciences, School of Medicine, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul (UFRGS)Porto Alegre, Brazil
| | - Alícia Deitos
- Post-Graduate Program in Medical Sciences, School of Medicine, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul (UFRGS)Porto Alegre, Brazil
| | - Luciana Cadore Stefani
- Post-Graduate Program in Medical Sciences, School of Medicine, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul (UFRGS)Porto Alegre, Brazil
- Pain and Anesthesia in Surgery Department, School of Medicine, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do SulPorto Alegre, Brazil
| | - Gustavo Cambraia-Canto
- Post-Graduate Program in Medical Sciences, School of Medicine, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul (UFRGS)Porto Alegre, Brazil
| | - Iraci L. S. Torres
- Post-Graduate Program in Medical Sciences, School of Medicine, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul (UFRGS)Porto Alegre, Brazil
- Pharmacology Department, Instituto de Ciências Básicas da Saúde, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do SulPorto Alegre, Brazil
| | - Andre R. Brunoni
- Berenson-Allen Center for Noninvasive Brain Stimulation, Department of Neurology, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Harvard Medical SchoolBoston, USA
| | - Felipe Fregni
- Service of Interdisciplinary Neuromodulation, Department and Institute of Psychiatry, University of São PauloSão Paulo, Brazil
| | - Wolnei Caumo
- Post-Graduate Program in Medical Sciences, School of Medicine, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul (UFRGS)Porto Alegre, Brazil
- Pain and Anesthesia in Surgery Department, School of Medicine, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do SulPorto Alegre, Brazil
- Pain and Palliative Care Service at Hospital de Clínicas de Porto Alegre (HCPA), Laboratory of Pain and Neuromodulation at UFRGSPorto Alegre, Brazil
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Hazime FA, de Freitas DG, Monteiro RL, Maretto RL, Carvalho NADA, Hasue RH, João SMA. Analgesic efficacy of cerebral and peripheral electrical stimulation in chronic nonspecific low back pain: a randomized, double-blind, factorial clinical trial. BMC Musculoskelet Disord 2015; 16:7. [PMID: 25636503 PMCID: PMC4323215 DOI: 10.1186/s12891-015-0461-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/16/2014] [Accepted: 01/13/2015] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Chronic non-specific low back pain is a major socioeconomic public health issue worldwide and, despite the volume of research in the area, it is still a difficult-to-treat condition. The conservative analgesic therapy usually comprises a variety of pharmacological and non-pharmacological strategies, such as transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation. The neuromatrix pain model and the new findings on the process of chronicity of pain point to a higher effectiveness of treatments that address central rather than peripheral structures. The transcranial direct current stimulation is a noninvasive technique of neuromodulation that has made recent advances in the treatment of chronic pain. The simultaneous combination of these two electrostimulation techniques (cerebral and peripheral) can provide an analgesic effect superior to isolated interventions. However, all the evidence on the analgesic efficacy of these techniques, alone or combined, is still fragmented. This is a protocol for a randomized clinical trial to investigate whether cerebral electrical stimulation combined with peripheral electrical stimulation is more effective in relieving pain than the isolated application of electrical stimulations in patients with chronic nonspecific low back pain. METHODS/DESIGN Ninety-two patients will be randomized into four groups to receive transcranial direct current stimulation (real/sham) + transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (real/sham) for 12 sessions over a period of four weeks. The primary clinical outcome (pain intensity) and the secondary ones (sensory and affective aspects of pain, physical functioning and global perceived effect) will be recorded before treatment, after four weeks, in Month 3 and in Month 6 after randomization. Confounding factors such as anxiety and depression, the patient's satisfaction with treatment and adverse effects will also be listed. Data will be collected by an examiner unaware of (blind to) the treatment allocation. DISCUSSION The results of this study may assist in clinical decision-making about the combined use of cerebral and peripheral electrical stimulation for pain relief in patients with chronic low back pain. TRIAL REGISTRATION NCT01896453.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fuad Ahmad Hazime
- Department of Physical Therapy, Universidade Federal do Piauí - UFPI, Avenida São Sebastião, 2819, CEP: 64202-020, Parnaíba, PI, Brasil.
- Department of Physical Therapy, Speech-Language Pathology and Occupational Therapy, Doctoral Programs in Rehabilitation Sciences, Faculdade de Medicina da Universidade de São Paulo - USP, Rua Cipotânea, 51, Cidade Universitária, CEP: 05360-160, São Paulo, SP, Brasil.
| | - Diego Galace de Freitas
- Department of Physical Therapy, Irmandade Santa Casa de Misericórdia de São Paulo, Rua Dr Cesário Motta Jr, 112, CEP: 01221-020, São Paulo, SP, Brasil.
- Department of Physical Therapy, Universidade Paulista - UNIP, Rua Antonio de Macedo, 505, CEP: 03087-040, São Paulo, SP, Brasil.
| | - Renan Lima Monteiro
- Department of Physical Therapy, Universidade Federal do Amapá - UFAP, Macapá, AP - Brasil, Rod. Juscelino Kubitschek Km 02, CEP: 68903-419, Macapá, AP, Brasil.
- Department of Physical Therapy, Speech-Language Pathology and Occupational Therapy, Doctoral Programs in Rehabilitation Sciences, Faculdade de Medicina da Universidade de São Paulo - USP, Rua Cipotânea, 51, Cidade Universitária, CEP: 05360-160, São Paulo, SP, Brasil.
| | - Rafaela Lasso Maretto
- Department of Physical Therapy, Irmandade Santa Casa de Misericórdia de São Paulo, Rua Dr Cesário Motta Jr, 112, CEP: 01221-020, São Paulo, SP, Brasil.
| | - Nilza Aparecida de Almeida Carvalho
- Department of Physical Therapy, Irmandade Santa Casa de Misericórdia de São Paulo, Rua Dr Cesário Motta Jr, 112, CEP: 01221-020, São Paulo, SP, Brasil.
| | - Renata Hydee Hasue
- Department of Physical Therapy, Speech-Language Pathology and Occupational Therapy, Doctoral Programs in Rehabilitation Sciences, Faculdade de Medicina da Universidade de São Paulo - USP, Rua Cipotânea, 51, Cidade Universitária, CEP: 05360-160, São Paulo, SP, Brasil.
| | - Silvia Maria Amado João
- Department of Physical Therapy, Speech-Language Pathology and Occupational Therapy, Doctoral Programs in Rehabilitation Sciences, Faculdade de Medicina da Universidade de São Paulo - USP, Rua Cipotânea, 51, Cidade Universitária, CEP: 05360-160, São Paulo, SP, Brasil.
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Ihle K, Rodriguez-Raecke R, Luedtke K, May A. tDCS modulates cortical nociceptive processing but has little to no impact on pain perception. Pain 2014; 155:2080-7. [DOI: 10.1016/j.pain.2014.07.018] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/12/2014] [Revised: 07/22/2014] [Accepted: 07/22/2014] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
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DosSantos MF, Martikainen IK, Nascimento TD, Love TM, DeBoer MD, Schambra HM, Bikson M, Zubieta JK, DaSilva AF. Building up analgesia in humans via the endogenous μ-opioid system by combining placebo and active tDCS: a preliminary report. PLoS One 2014; 9:e102350. [PMID: 25029273 PMCID: PMC4100885 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0102350] [Citation(s) in RCA: 61] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/24/2014] [Accepted: 06/18/2014] [Indexed: 01/24/2023] Open
Abstract
Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation (tDCS) is a method of non-invasive brain stimulation that has been frequently used in experimental and clinical pain studies. However, the molecular mechanisms underlying tDCS-mediated pain control, and most important its placebo component, are not completely established. In this pilot study, we investigated in vivo the involvement of the endogenous μ-opioid system in the global tDCS-analgesia experience. Nine healthy volunteers went through positron emission tomography (PET) scans with [11C]carfentanil, a selective μ-opioid receptor (MOR) radiotracer, to measure the central MOR activity during tDCS in vivo (non-displaceable binding potential, BPND)--one of the main analgesic mechanisms in the brain. Placebo and real anodal primary motor cortex (M1/2mA) tDCS were delivered sequentially for 20 minutes each during the PET scan. The initial placebo tDCS phase induced a decrease in MOR BPND in the periaqueductal gray matter (PAG), precuneus, and thalamus, indicating activation of endogenous μ-opioid neurotransmission, even before the active tDCS. The subsequent real tDCS also induced MOR activation in the PAG and precuneus, which were positively correlated to the changes observed with placebo tDCS. Nonetheless, real tDCS had an additional MOR activation in the left prefrontal cortex. Although significant changes in the MOR BPND occurred with both placebo and real tDCS, significant analgesic effects, measured by improvements in the heat and cold pain thresholds, were only observed after real tDCS, not the placebo tDCS. This study gives preliminary evidence that the analgesic effects reported with M1-tDCS, can be in part related to the recruitment of the same endogenous MOR mechanisms induced by placebo, and that such effects can be purposely optimized by real tDCS.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marcos F. DosSantos
- Headache & Orofacial Pain Effort (H.O.P.E.), Department of Biologic and Materials Sciences & Michigan Center for Oral Health Research (MCOHR), School of Dentistry, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan, United States of America
| | - Ilkka K. Martikainen
- Headache & Orofacial Pain Effort (H.O.P.E.), Department of Biologic and Materials Sciences & Michigan Center for Oral Health Research (MCOHR), School of Dentistry, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan, United States of America
- Translational Neuroimaging Laboratory, Molecular and Behavioral Neuroscience Institute (MBNI), University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan, United States of America
| | - Thiago D. Nascimento
- Headache & Orofacial Pain Effort (H.O.P.E.), Department of Biologic and Materials Sciences & Michigan Center for Oral Health Research (MCOHR), School of Dentistry, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan, United States of America
| | - Tiffany M. Love
- Translational Neuroimaging Laboratory, Molecular and Behavioral Neuroscience Institute (MBNI), University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan, United States of America
| | - Misty D. DeBoer
- Headache & Orofacial Pain Effort (H.O.P.E.), Department of Biologic and Materials Sciences & Michigan Center for Oral Health Research (MCOHR), School of Dentistry, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan, United States of America
| | - Heidi M. Schambra
- Departments of Neurology and Rehabilitation & Regenerative Medicine, Columbia University, New York, New York, United States of America
| | - Marom Bikson
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, The City College of New York, New York, New York, United States of America
| | - Jon-Kar Zubieta
- Translational Neuroimaging Laboratory, Molecular and Behavioral Neuroscience Institute (MBNI), University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan, United States of America
| | - Alexandre F. DaSilva
- Headache & Orofacial Pain Effort (H.O.P.E.), Department of Biologic and Materials Sciences & Michigan Center for Oral Health Research (MCOHR), School of Dentistry, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan, United States of America
- Translational Neuroimaging Laboratory, Molecular and Behavioral Neuroscience Institute (MBNI), University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan, United States of America
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