1
|
Čeko M, Baeuerle T, Webster L, Wager TD, Lumley MA. The effects of virtual reality neuroscience-based therapy on clinical and neuroimaging outcomes in patients with chronic back pain: a randomized clinical trial. Pain 2024; 165:1860-1874. [PMID: 38466872 DOI: 10.1097/j.pain.0000000000003198] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/26/2023] [Accepted: 01/06/2024] [Indexed: 03/13/2024]
Abstract
ABSTRACT Chronic pain remains poorly managed. The integration of immersive technologies (ie, virtual reality [VR]) with neuroscience-based principles may provide effective pain treatment by targeting cognitive and affective neural processes that maintain pain and therefore potentially changing neurobiological circuits associated with pain chronification and amplification. We tested the effectiveness of a novel VR neuroscience-based therapy (VRNT) to improve pain-related outcomes in n = 31 participants with chronic back pain, evaluated against usual care (waitlist control; n = 30) in a 2-arm randomized clinical trial ( NCT04468074) . We also conducted pre-treatment and post-treatment MRI to test whether VRNT affects brain networks previously linked to chronic pain and treatment effects. Compared with the control condition, VRNT led to significantly reduced pain intensity (g = 0.63) and pain interference (g = 0.84) at post-treatment vs pre-treatment, with effects persisting at 2-week follow-up. These improvements were partially mediated by reduced kinesiophobia and pain catastrophizing. Several secondary clinical outcomes were also improved by VRNT, including disability, quality of life, sleep, and fatigue. In addition, VRNT was associated with increases in dorsomedial prefrontal functional connectivity with the superior somatomotor, anterior prefrontal and visual cortices, and decreased white matter fractional anisotropy in the corpus callosum adjacent to the anterior cingulate, relative to the control condition. Thus, VRNT showed preliminary efficacy in significantly reducing pain and improving overall functioning, possibly through changes in somatosensory and prefrontal brain networks.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Marta Čeko
- Institute of Cognitive Science, University of Colorado, Boulder, CO, United States
| | | | - Lynn Webster
- U.S. Center for Policy, Scientific Affairs, Dr. Vince Clinical Research, Salt Lake City, UT, United States
| | - Tor D Wager
- Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences, Dartmouth College, Hanover, NH, United States
| | - Mark A Lumley
- Department of Psychology, Wayne State University, Detroit, MI, United States
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Murillo C, Coppieters I, Cagnie B, Bernaers L, Bontinck J, Meeus M, Timmers I. Neural processing of pain-related distress to neck-specific movements in people with chronic whiplash-associated disorders. Pain 2023; 164:1954-1964. [PMID: 36943244 DOI: 10.1097/j.pain.0000000000002890] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/29/2022] [Accepted: 01/23/2023] [Indexed: 03/23/2023]
Abstract
ABSTRACT Pain-related distress contributes to long-term disability in chronic whiplash-associated disorders. Recently, neuroimaging studies have revealed altered neural responses to viewing pictures of movements associated with back pain in key regions for threat and affective processing. In this study, we examined neural correlates of imagining neck-specific movements designed to elicit pain-related distress in individuals with whiplash-associated disorders (n = 63) when compared with that in sex-matched pain-free controls (n = 32). In the scanner, participants were presented with neck-specific movement-related pictures divided into 3 categories (high fear, moderate-fear, and neutral control pictures) and asked to imagine how they would feel if they were performing the movement. Whole-brain analyses revealed greater differential activation (high-fear vs neutral) in individuals with whiplash-associated disorders when compared with that in pain-free controls in 6 clusters including right and left postcentral gyri, left parietal operculum, dorsal precuneus, left superior frontal gyrus/anterior cingulate cortex, and posterior cingulate cortex/ventral precuneus. For the contrast moderate-fear vs neutral, patients showed greater differential activation than controls in the right and left posterolateral cerebellum. Activation patterns in the precuneus and posterior cingulate cortex were negatively associated with pain-related fear, but no other correlations were observed. Together, the findings suggest that when conceptualizing neck-specific movements associated with pain, people with chronic whiplash-associated disorders may predict-and potentially amplify-their sensory and affective consequences and therewith trigger dysfunctional affective and/or behavioral responses. Herewith, we provide new insights into the neural mechanisms underlying chronic pain in people with whiplash-associated disorders, pointing towards a complex interplay between cognitive/affective and sensorimotor circuitry.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Carlos Murillo
- Department of Rehabilitation Sciences, Faculty of Health Sciences and Medicine, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
- Pain in Motion International Research Group, Antwerp, Belgium
| | - Iris Coppieters
- Department of Rehabilitation Sciences, Faculty of Health Sciences and Medicine, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
- Pain in Motion International Research Group, Antwerp, Belgium
- Laboratory for Brain-Gut Axis Studies (LaBGAS), Translational Research in GastroIntestinal Disorders (TARGID), Department of Chronic Diseases and Metabolism, Faculty of Medicine, KU Leuven, Belgium
- Department of Physiotherapy, Human Physiology and Anatomy, Faculty of Physical Education and Physiotherapy, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Brussels, Belgium
| | - Barbara Cagnie
- Department of Rehabilitation Sciences, Faculty of Health Sciences and Medicine, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Lisa Bernaers
- Department of Rehabilitation Sciences, Faculty of Health Sciences and Medicine, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Jente Bontinck
- Department of Rehabilitation Sciences, Faculty of Health Sciences and Medicine, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
- Pain in Motion International Research Group, Antwerp, Belgium
| | - Mira Meeus
- Department of Rehabilitation Sciences, Faculty of Health Sciences and Medicine, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
- Pain in Motion International Research Group, Antwerp, Belgium
- MOVANT Research Group, Department of Rehabilitation Sciences and Physiotherapy, Faculty of Health Sciences and Medicine, University of Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium
| | - Inge Timmers
- Department of Rehabilitation Sciences, Faculty of Health Sciences and Medicine, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
- Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, Maastricht University, Maastricht, the Netherlands
- Department of Medical and Clinical Psychology, Tilburg University, Tilburg, Maastricht, the Netherlands
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Zhang C, Chen X, Yin Y, Xie D, Luo J, Ai Y, Zhan W, Kan H, Zhang S, Jiang G, Hu X. Functional Alterations of the Basal Ganglia Are Associated with Voluntary Activation of the Core Stabilizing Muscles in Patients with Chronic Low Back Pain: A Cross-Sectional Study. Pain Res Manag 2023; 2023:2028379. [PMID: 37693681 PMCID: PMC10484657 DOI: 10.1155/2023/2028379] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/17/2023] [Revised: 07/15/2023] [Accepted: 08/11/2023] [Indexed: 09/12/2023]
Abstract
Purpose Deficits in voluntary activation of the core stabilizing muscles are consistently observed in patients with chronic low back pain (CLBP); however, the underlying neural mechanism remains unclear. This cross-sectional study aimed at testing the hypothesis that the impaired voluntary activation of core stabilizing muscles is associated with structural and functional alterations in the basal ganglia, thalamus, and cortex in patients with CLBP. Methods We obtained structural and resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging (rs-fMRI) data from 53 patients with CLBP and 67 healthy controls and estimated the alterations in grey matter volume (GMV) and functional and effective connectivity (EC) of regions with altered GMV via whole brain analysis. The voluntary activation of the multifidus (MF) and transversus abdominis (TrA) was evaluated by ultrasound imaging in these patients. Results Compared with the HCs, they displayed a significant decrease in GMV in the bilateral thalamus and caudate nucleus, a significant increase in GMV in the left middle frontal gyrus, and increased resting-state functional connectivity between the right caudate nucleus and the bilateral precuneus (voxel-level p < 0.005, Gaussian random field-corrected p < 0.05). The patients also showed increased EC from the right caudate nucleus to the bilateral precuneus, which was significantly correlated with voluntary activation of the bilateral MF and TrA (all p < 0.050). Conclusions Grey matter alterations may be confined to regions responsible for perception, motor control, and emotion regulation in patients with CLBP. The interrupted EC from the basal ganglia to the default mode network might be involved in the impairment of voluntary activation of the core stabilizing muscles.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Chanjuan Zhang
- Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, The Third Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510630, China
| | - Xi Chen
- Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, The Third Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510630, China
| | - Yi Yin
- Department of Medical Imaging, Guangdong Second Provincial General Hospital, Guangzhou 510317, China
| | - Dongfeng Xie
- Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, The Third Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510630, China
| | - Jing Luo
- Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, The Third Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510630, China
| | - Yinan Ai
- Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, The Third Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510630, China
| | - Wenfeng Zhan
- Department of Medical Imaging, Guangdong Second Provincial General Hospital, Guangzhou 510317, China
| | - Hongjun Kan
- Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, The Third Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510630, China
| | - Shuxian Zhang
- Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, The Third Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510630, China
| | - Guihua Jiang
- Department of Medical Imaging, Guangdong Second Provincial General Hospital, Guangzhou 510317, China
| | - Xiquan Hu
- Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, The Third Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510630, China
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
Čeko M, Baeuerle T, Webster L, Wager TD, Lumley MA. The Effects of Virtual Reality Neuroscience-based Therapy on Clinical and Neuroimaging Outcomes in Patients with Chronic Back Pain: A Randomized Clinical Trial. MEDRXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR HEALTH SCIENCES 2023:2023.07.24.23293109. [PMID: 37546872 PMCID: PMC10402228 DOI: 10.1101/2023.07.24.23293109] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 08/08/2023]
Abstract
Chronic pain remains poorly managed. The integration of innovative immersive technologies (i.e., virtual reality (VR)) with recent neuroscience-based principles that position the brain as the key organ of chronic pain may provide a more effective pain treatment than traditional behavioral therapies. By targeting cognitive and affective processes that maintain pain and potentially directly changing neurobiological circuits associated with pain chronification and amplification, VR-based pain treatment has the potential for significant and long-lasting pain relief. We tested the effectiveness of a novel VR neuroscience-based therapy (VRNT) to improve pain-related outcomes in n = 31 participants with chronic back pain, evaluated against usual care (n = 30) in a 2-arm randomized clinical trial ( NCT04468074) . We also conducted pre- and post-treatment MRI to test whether VRNT affects brain networks previously linked to chronic pain and treatment effects. Compared to the control condition, VRNT led to significantly reduced pain intensity (g = 0.63) and pain interference (g = 0.84) at post-treatment vs. pre-treatment, with effects persisting at 2-week follow-up. The improvements were partially mediated by reduced kinesiophobia and pain catastrophizing. Several secondary clinical outcomes were also improved, including disability, quality of life, sleep, and fatigue. In addition, VRNT was associated with modest increases in functional connectivity of the somatomotor and default mode networks and decreased white matter fractional anisotropy in the corpus callosum adjacent to anterior cingula, relative to the control condition. This, VRNT showed preliminary efficacy in significantly reducing pain and improving overall functioning, possibly via changes in somatosensory and prefrontal brain networks.
Collapse
|
5
|
Christe G, Benaim C, Luthi F, Jolles BM, Favre J. Reduction in pain-related fear is not associated with improvement in spinal biomechanics but with decrease in movement-evoked pain in patients with chronic low back pain. Pain Pract 2023; 23:290-300. [PMID: 36479806 DOI: 10.1111/papr.13191] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/04/2022] [Revised: 10/10/2022] [Accepted: 11/28/2022] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND AIMS While a causal relationship between pain-related fear and spinal movement avoidance in patients with chronic low back pain (CLBP) has frequently been postulated, evidence supporting this relationship is limited. This study aimed to test if decreases in pain-related fear or catastrophizing were associated with improvements in spinal biomechanics, accounting for possible changes in movement-evoked pain. METHODS Sixty-two patients with CLBP were assessed before and after an interdisciplinary rehabilitation program (IRP). Pain-related fear was assessed with general and task-specific measures. Lower and upper lumbar angular amplitude and velocity as well as paraspinal muscle activity were recorded during five daily-life tasks to evaluate spinal biomechanics. Relationships were tested with multivariable linear regression analyses. RESULTS The large decreases in pain-related fear and catastrophizing following the IRP were scarcely and inconsistently associated with changes in spinal biomechanics (< 3% of the models reported a statistically significant association). Results remained comparable for activities inducing more or less fear, for specific or general measures of pain-related fear, and for analyses performed on the entire population or limited to subgroups of patients with higher levels of task-specific fear. In contrast, reductions in task-specific pain-related fear were significantly associated with decreases in movement-evoked pain in all tasks (r = 0.26-0.62, p ≤ 0.02). CONCLUSION This study does not support an association between pain-related fear and spinal movement avoidance. However, it provides evidence supporting a direct relationship between decreased pain-related fear and decreased movement-evoked pain, possibly explaining some mechanisms of the rehabilitation programs.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Guillaume Christe
- Department of Physiotherapy, HESAV School of Health Sciences, HES-SO University of Applied Sciences and Arts Western Switzerland, Lausanne, Switzerland.,Swiss BioMotion Lab, Department of Musculoskeletal Medicine, Lausanne University Hospital and University of Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Charles Benaim
- Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Orthopedic Hospital, Lausanne University Hospital, Lausanne, Switzerland.,Department of Musculoskeletal Rehabilitation, Clinique Romande de Réadaptation, Sion, Switzerland
| | - François Luthi
- Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Orthopedic Hospital, Lausanne University Hospital, Lausanne, Switzerland.,Department of Musculoskeletal Rehabilitation, Clinique Romande de Réadaptation, Sion, Switzerland
| | - Brigitte M Jolles
- Swiss BioMotion Lab, Department of Musculoskeletal Medicine, Lausanne University Hospital and University of Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland.,Institute of Microengineering, Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Julien Favre
- Swiss BioMotion Lab, Department of Musculoskeletal Medicine, Lausanne University Hospital and University of Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland.,The Sense Innovation and Research Center, Lausanne and Sion, Switzerland
| |
Collapse
|
6
|
Jotwani ML, Wu Z, Lunde CE, Sieberg CB. The missing mechanistic link: Improving behavioral treatment efficacy for pediatric chronic pain. FRONTIERS IN PAIN RESEARCH (LAUSANNE, SWITZERLAND) 2022; 3:1022699. [PMID: 36313218 PMCID: PMC9614027 DOI: 10.3389/fpain.2022.1022699] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/18/2022] [Accepted: 09/26/2022] [Indexed: 11/07/2022]
Abstract
Pediatric chronic pain is a significant global issue, with biopsychosocial factors contributing to the complexity of the condition. Studies have explored behavioral treatments for pediatric chronic pain, but these treatments have mixed efficacy for improving functional and psychological outcomes. Furthermore, the literature lacks an understanding of the biobehavioral mechanisms contributing to pediatric chronic pain treatment response. In this mini review, we focus on how neuroimaging has been used to identify biobehavioral mechanisms of different conditions and how this modality can be used in mechanistic clinical trials to identify markers of treatment response for pediatric chronic pain. We propose that mechanistic clinical trials, utilizing neuroimaging, are warranted to investigate how to optimize the efficacy of behavioral treatments for pediatric chronic pain patients across pain types and ages.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Maya L. Jotwani
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Biobehavioral Pain Innovations Lab, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, MA, United States,Pain and Affective Neuroscience Center, Department of Anesthesiology, Critical Care, Pain Medicine, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, MA, United States
| | - Ziyan Wu
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Biobehavioral Pain Innovations Lab, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, MA, United States,Pain and Affective Neuroscience Center, Department of Anesthesiology, Critical Care, Pain Medicine, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, MA, United States,Department of Psychiatry, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, United States
| | - Claire E. Lunde
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Biobehavioral Pain Innovations Lab, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, MA, United States,Pain and Affective Neuroscience Center, Department of Anesthesiology, Critical Care, Pain Medicine, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, MA, United States,Nuffield Department of Women's and Reproductive Health, Medical Sciences Division, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom
| | - Christine B. Sieberg
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Biobehavioral Pain Innovations Lab, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, MA, United States,Pain and Affective Neuroscience Center, Department of Anesthesiology, Critical Care, Pain Medicine, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, MA, United States,Department of Psychiatry, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, United States,Correspondence: Christine B. Sieberg
| |
Collapse
|
7
|
Hazra S, Handa G, Nayak P, Sahu S, Sarkar K, Venkataraman S. A Dysfunctional Descending Pain Modulation System in Chronic Nonspecific Low Back Pain: A Systematic Review and ALE Meta-Analysis. Neurol India 2022; 70:1344-1360. [PMID: 36076626 DOI: 10.4103/0028-3886.355137] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/04/2022]
Abstract
Pain, a physiological protective mechanism, turns into a complex dynamic neural response when it becomes chronic. The role of neuroplastic brain changes is more evident than the peripheral factors in the maintenance, modulation and amplification of chronic low back pain (cLBP). In this background, we summarise the brain changes in cLBP in a coordinate-based activation likelihood estimation (ALE) meta-analysis of previous functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) studies. Databases ('PubMed', 'Scopus' and 'Sleuth') were searched till May 2022 and the activity pattern was noted under the 'without stimulation' and 'with stimulation' groups. A total of 312 studies were selected after removing duplicates. Seventeen (553 cLBP patients, 192 activation foci) studies were fulfilled the eligibility criteria and included in the 'without stimulation' group. Twelve statistically significant clusters are localized in the prefrontal cortex, primary somatosensory cortex, primary motor cortex, parietal cortex, anterior cingulate cortex, caudate, putamen, globus pallidus amygdala, occipital lobe, temporal lobe and associated white matter in this group. Ten studies (353 cLBP patients, 125 activation foci) were selected in the' with stimulation' groups. In this group, seven statistically significant clusters were found in the frontal cortex, orbitofrontal cortex, premotor cortex, parietal cortex, claustrum and insula. These statistically significant clusters indicate a probable imbalance in GABAergic modulation of brain circuits and dysfunction in the descending pain modulation system. This disparity in the pain neuro-matrix is the source of spontaneous and persisting pain in cLBP.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Sandipan Hazra
- Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, R. G. Kar Medical College, Kolkata, West Bengal, India
| | - Gita Handa
- Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi, India
| | - Prasunpriya Nayak
- Department of Physiology, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, Jodhpur, Rajasthan, India
| | - Samantak Sahu
- Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, Jodhpur, Rajasthan, India
| | - Kaushik Sarkar
- Department of Electronics and Communication Engineering, Narula Institute of Technology, Kolkata, West Bengal, India
| | - Srikumar Venkataraman
- Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi, India
| |
Collapse
|
8
|
Individual Patterns and Temporal Trajectories of Changes in Fear and Pain during Exposure In Vivo: A Multiple Single-Case Experimental Design in Patients with Chronic Pain. J Clin Med 2022; 11:jcm11051360. [PMID: 35268453 PMCID: PMC8911417 DOI: 10.3390/jcm11051360] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/14/2022] [Revised: 02/21/2022] [Accepted: 02/25/2022] [Indexed: 02/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Exposure in vivo (EXP) is an effective treatment to reduce pain-related fear and disability in chronic pain populations. Yet, it remains unclear how reductions in fear and pain relate to each other. This single-case experimental design study attempted to identify patterns in the individual responses to EXP and to unravel temporal trajectories of fear and pain. Daily diaries were completed before, during and after EXP. Multilevel modelling analyses were performed to evaluate the overall effect. Temporal effects were scrutinized by individual regression analyses and determination of the time to reach a minimal clinically important difference. Furthermore, individual graphs were visually inspected for potential patterns. Twenty patients with chronic low back pain and complex regional pain syndrome type I were included. On a group level, both fear and pain were reduced following EXP. Individually, fear was significantly reduced in 65% of the patients, while pain in only 20%. A decrease in fear was seen mostly in the first weeks, while pain levels reduced later or remained unchanged. Daily measurements provided rich data on temporal trajectories of reductions in fear and pain. Overall, reductions in fear preceded pain relief and seemed to be essential to achieve pain reductions.
Collapse
|
9
|
den Hollander M, Smeets RJEM, van Meulenbroek T, van Laake-Geelen CCM, Baadjou VA, Timmers I. Exposure in Vivo as a Treatment Approach to Target Pain-Related Fear: Theory and New Insights From Research and Clinical Practice. Phys Ther 2022; 102:6515749. [PMID: 35084025 DOI: 10.1093/ptj/pzab270] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/21/2021] [Revised: 09/21/2021] [Accepted: 11/07/2021] [Indexed: 01/07/2023]
Abstract
UNLABELLED Pain-related fear (PRF) can be a significant factor contributing to the development and maintenance of pain-related disability in individuals with persistent pain. One treatment approach to target PRF and related avoidance behavior is exposure in vivo (EXP). EXP has a long history in the field of anxiety, a field that is constantly evolving. This Perspective outlines recent theoretical advancements and how they apply to EXP for PRF, including suggestions for how to optimize inhibitory learning during EXP; reviews mechanistic work from neuroimaging supporting the targeting of PRF in people with chronic pain; and focuses on clinical applications of EXP for PRF, as EXP is moving into new directions regarding who is receiving EXP (eg, EXP in chronic secondary pain) and how treatment is provided (EXP in primary care with a crucial role for physical therapists). Considerations are provided regarding challenges, remaining questions, and promising future perspectives. IMPACT For patients with chronic pain who have elevated pain-related fear (PRF), exposure is the treatment of choice. This Perspective highlights the inhibitory learning approach, summarizes mechanistic work from experimental psychology and neuroimaging regarding PRF in chronic pain, and describes possible clinical applications of EXP in chronic secondary pain as well as in primary care.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Marlies den Hollander
- Adelante Centre of Expertise in Rehabilitation and Audiology, Maastricht, the Netherlands.,Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, Care and Public Health Research Institute, Maastricht University, Maastricht, the Netherlands
| | - Rob J E M Smeets
- Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, Care and Public Health Research Institute, Maastricht University, Maastricht, the Netherlands.,CIR Revalidatie, location Eindhoven, the Netherlands
| | - Thijs van Meulenbroek
- Adelante Centre of Expertise in Rehabilitation and Audiology, Maastricht, the Netherlands.,Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, Care and Public Health Research Institute, Maastricht University, Maastricht, the Netherlands
| | - Charlotte C M van Laake-Geelen
- Adelante Centre of Expertise in Rehabilitation and Audiology, Maastricht, the Netherlands.,Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, Care and Public Health Research Institute, Maastricht University, Maastricht, the Netherlands
| | - Vera A Baadjou
- Adelante Centre of Expertise in Rehabilitation and Audiology, Maastricht, the Netherlands.,Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, Care and Public Health Research Institute, Maastricht University, Maastricht, the Netherlands
| | - Inge Timmers
- Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, Care and Public Health Research Institute, Maastricht University, Maastricht, the Netherlands
| |
Collapse
|
10
|
Kim D, Chae Y, Park HJ, Lee IS. Effects of Chronic Pain Treatment on Altered Functional and Metabolic Activities in the Brain: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Functional Neuroimaging Studies. Front Neurosci 2021; 15:684926. [PMID: 34290582 PMCID: PMC8287208 DOI: 10.3389/fnins.2021.684926] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/24/2021] [Accepted: 06/02/2021] [Indexed: 01/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Previous studies have identified altered brain changes in chronic pain patients, however, it remains unclear whether these changes are reversible. We summarized the neural and molecular changes in patients with chronic pain and employed a meta-analysis approach to quantify the changes. We included 75 studies and 11 of these 75 studies were included in the activation likelihood estimation (ALE) analysis. In the 62 functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) studies, the primary somatosensory and motor cortex (SI and MI), thalamus, insula, and anterior cingulate cortex (ACC) showed significantly decreased activity after the treatments compared to baseline. In the 13 positron emission tomography (PET) studies, the SI, MI, thalamus, and insula showed significantly increased glucose uptake, blood flow, and opioid-receptor binding potentials after the treatments compared to baseline. A meta-analysis of fMRI studies in patients with chronic pain, during pain-related tasks, showed a significant deactivation likelihood cluster in the left medial posterior thalamus. Further studies are warranted to understand brain reorganization in patients with chronic pain compared to the normal state, in terms of its relationship with symptom reduction and baseline conditions.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Dongwon Kim
- College of Korean Medicine, Kyung Hee University, Seoul, South Korea
| | - Younbyoung Chae
- College of Korean Medicine, Kyung Hee University, Seoul, South Korea
- Acupuncture and Meridian Science Research Center, Kyung Hee University, Seoul, South Korea
| | - Hi-Joon Park
- College of Korean Medicine, Kyung Hee University, Seoul, South Korea
- Acupuncture and Meridian Science Research Center, Kyung Hee University, Seoul, South Korea
| | - In-Seon Lee
- College of Korean Medicine, Kyung Hee University, Seoul, South Korea
- Acupuncture and Meridian Science Research Center, Kyung Hee University, Seoul, South Korea
| |
Collapse
|
11
|
Knechtle D, Schmid S, Suter M, Riner F, Moschini G, Senteler M, Schweinhardt P, Meier ML. Fear-avoidance beliefs are associated with reduced lumbar spine flexion during object lifting in pain-free adults. Pain 2021; 162:1621-1631. [PMID: 33323888 PMCID: PMC8120682 DOI: 10.1097/j.pain.0000000000002170] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/08/2020] [Revised: 11/24/2020] [Accepted: 12/09/2020] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
ABSTRACT There is a long-held belief that physical activities such as lifting with a flexed spine is generally harmful for the back and can cause low back pain (LBP), potentially reinforcing fear-avoidance beliefs underlying pain-related fear. In patients with chronic LBP, pain-related fear has been shown to be associated with reduced lumbar range of motion during lifting, suggesting a protective response to pain. However, despite short-term beneficial effects for tissue health, recent evidence suggests that maintaining a protective trunk movement strategy may also pose a risk for (persistent) LBP due to possible pronociceptive consequences of altered spinal motion, potentially leading to increased loading on lumbar tissues. Yet, it is unknown if similar protective movement strategies already exist in pain-free individuals, which would yield potential insights into the role of fear-avoidance beliefs in motor behavior in the absence of pain. Therefore, the aim of this study is to test whether fear-avoidance beliefs influence spinal motion during lifting in a healthy cohort of pain-free adults without a history of chronic pain. The study subjects (N = 57) filled out several pain-related fear questionnaires and were asked to perform a lifting task (5kg-box). High-resolution spinal kinematics were assessed using an optical motion capturing system. Time-sensitive analyses were performed based on statistical parametric mapping. The results demonstrated time-specific and negative relationships between self-report measures of pain-related fear and lumbar spine flexion angles during lifting, indicating potential unfavorable interactions between psychological factors and spinal motion during lifting in pain-free subjects.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Deborah Knechtle
- Integrative Spinal Research, Department of Chiropractic Medicine, Balgrist University Hospital Zurich, University of Zurich, Switzerland
- Department of Chiropractic Medicine, University of Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Stefan Schmid
- Spinal Movement Biomechanics Group, Division of Physiotherapy, Department of Health Professions, Bern University of Applied Sciences, Bern, Switzerland
| | - Magdalena Suter
- Integrative Spinal Research, Department of Chiropractic Medicine, Balgrist University Hospital Zurich, University of Zurich, Switzerland
- Department of Chiropractic Medicine, University of Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Fabienne Riner
- Integrative Spinal Research, Department of Chiropractic Medicine, Balgrist University Hospital Zurich, University of Zurich, Switzerland
- Department of Chiropractic Medicine, University of Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Greta Moschini
- Department of Orthopedics, Balgrist University Hospital, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland; Institute for Biomechanics, ETH Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Marco Senteler
- Department of Orthopedics, Balgrist University Hospital, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland; Institute for Biomechanics, ETH Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Petra Schweinhardt
- Integrative Spinal Research, Department of Chiropractic Medicine, Balgrist University Hospital Zurich, University of Zurich, Switzerland
- Department of Chiropractic Medicine, University of Zurich, Switzerland
- Alan Edwards Center for Research on Pain, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada
| | - Michael L. Meier
- Integrative Spinal Research, Department of Chiropractic Medicine, Balgrist University Hospital Zurich, University of Zurich, Switzerland
- Department of Chiropractic Medicine, University of Zurich, Switzerland
| |
Collapse
|
12
|
Timmers I, van de Ven VG, Vlaeyen JW, Smeets RJ, Verbunt JA, de Jong JR, Kaas AL. Corticolimbic Circuitry in Chronic Pain Tracks Pain Intensity Relief Following Exposure In Vivo. BIOLOGICAL PSYCHIATRY GLOBAL OPEN SCIENCE 2021; 1:28-36. [PMID: 36324433 PMCID: PMC9616294 DOI: 10.1016/j.bpsgos.2021.03.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/11/2020] [Revised: 03/24/2021] [Accepted: 03/24/2021] [Indexed: 12/28/2022] Open
Abstract
Background A subset of patients with chronic pain who receive exposure in vivo (EXP) treatment experience clinically relevant relief of pain intensity. Although pain relief is not an explicit therapeutic target, it is important to understand how and why this concomitant effect occurs in some patients but not others. This longitudinal study therefore aimed to characterize brain plasticity as well as to explore pretreatment factors related to pain relief. Methods Resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging data were acquired in 30 patients with chronic pain. Twenty-three patients completed EXP, and 6-month follow-up data were available in 20 patients (magnetic resonance imaging data in 17 patients). Pain-free control data were acquired at two time points (n = 29, n = 21). Seed-based resting-state functional connectivity (rsFC) analyses were performed, with seeds in the amygdala, hippocampus, and nucleus accumbens. Results Pain relief after EXP was highly variable, with 60% of patients reporting a clinically relevant improvement. Amygdala rsFC with the middle frontal gyrus decreased significantly over time in patients but was not associated with pain relief. In contrast, greater pain relief was associated with greater decreases over time in hippocampus rsFC with the precuneus, which was related to reductions in catastrophizing (EXP therapeutic target) as well. Greater pain relief was also associated with lower pretreatment rsFC between nucleus accumbens and postcentral gyrus. Conclusions While changes in hippocampus rsFC were associated with pain relief after EXP, pretreatment nucleus accumbens rsFC showed potential prognostic value. Our findings further support the importance of corticolimbic circuitry in chronic pain, emphasizing its relation to pain relief and identifying potential underlying mechanisms and prognostic factors, warranting further testing in independent samples.
Collapse
|
13
|
Pain Catastrophizing Is Related to Static Postural Control Impairment in Patients with Nonspecific Chronic Low Back Pain: A Cross-Sectional Study. Pain Res Manag 2020; 2020:9629526. [PMID: 33193926 PMCID: PMC7641713 DOI: 10.1155/2020/9629526] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/29/2020] [Revised: 10/01/2020] [Accepted: 10/10/2020] [Indexed: 12/29/2022]
Abstract
Purpose Pain catastrophizing may contribute to the altered trunk muscle activity in patients with nonspecific chronic low back pain (NSCLBP). It is unclear if pain catastrophizing influences static postural control in patients with NSCLBP. This study aimed to investigate the relationship between pain catastrophizing and static postural control in NSCLBP patients. Methods Sixty-eight participants with NSCLBP and 40 healthy participants were recruited. Postural control was assessed by the sway area and the sway length of the center of pressure (COP) during balance tests. Pain catastrophizing in participants with NSCLBP was assessed by the Pain Catastrophizing Scale (PCS). Bilateral transversus abdominis (TrA) activation was evaluated by ultrasound imaging-measured percent change in muscle thickness. Associations between COP parameter and PCS/subscales of PCS were examined by multiple linear regression (MLR). Results Our results observed a larger COP sway area in NSCLBP group under eyes-closed condition (p < 0.001) and a lower level of voluntary activation of the bilateral TrA (p < 0.001), compared with the healthy control group. The MLR analyses revealed that the COP area sway under eyes-closed condition was significantly associated with the PCS score/helplessness score of PCS, voluntary activation of the left TrA, and age in participants with NSCLBP (β = 0.222/0.236, 0.341/0.344, and 0.328/0.325; p=0.045/0.033, 0.002, and 0.004, resp.). Conclusions Static postural control was associated with pain catastrophizing, voluntary activation of TrA, and age in participants with NSCLBP. This indicated that pain catastrophizing may affect postural control and should be considered when interpreting balance test results and managing NSCLBP.
Collapse
|