Fibromyalgia Activity Study With Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation (FAST)

Not Applicable

Completed

Conditions: Fibromyalgia

Interventions: Device: TENS

Registration Number: NCT01888640

Lead Sponsor: Kathleen Sluka

Brief Summary: Pain associated with fibromyalgia interferes with daily function, work, and social activities resulting in a decreased quality of life. People with fibromyalgia also have a significant amount of fatigue and a fear of movement. People with fibromyalgia show enhanced excitability of pain neurons in the central nervous system and reduced pain inhibition. Therefore, one of the main treatments for patients with fibromyalgia must focus on pain relief to allow the person to function more independently both at home and at work. Transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation is used by health professionals to deliver electrical stimulation through the skin for pain control. Basic science studies, from the PI's laboratory show that TENS activates descending pain inhibitory pathways to inhibit excitability of pain neurons. Thus the ideal patient population for the treatment of TENS would be one in which there is enhanced central excitability and reduced inhibition; fibromyalgia is such a condition.

Hypothesis: The investigators hypothesize that application of Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation (TENS) to patients with fibromyalgia will reduce resting and movement-related pain and reduce central excitability by restoring diffuse noxious inhibitory controls (DNIC), and that this decrease in pain and/or central excitability will reduce fatigue and fear of movement, thereby improving function and quality of life

Detailed Description: This is a phase II randomized, double-blind, placebo controlled multi-center clinical trial involving a device, Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation (TENS). TENS is a non-pharmacological agent which delivers electrical stimulation by a battery operated device via electrodes placed on the skin. TENS is considered to be a safe, inexpensive and non-invasive modality used to treat a variety of acute and chronic pain conditions. The initial phase of the study will randomly allocate subjects to receive active TENS, placebo TENS or standard care (No TENS). After participating in the 1 month random assignment, all subjects will receive active TENS for 1 month. The subjects will make 4 visits to the clinic approximately 2 to 3 1/2 hours each visit. Visits will entail questionnaires, functional tasks, accelerometry, TENS, pain and fatigue assessments.

Study Aims:

Aim #1: The primary aim of the study is to test the effectiveness of repeated TENS use on movement-related pain in people with fibromyalgia with random assignment to three treatments: standard care, placebo TENS and active Aim #2: A secondary aim will test if pain reduction by TENs results in a concomitant decrease in fatigue and fear of movement, and an increase in function and quality of life. Outcome measures will include physical function by directly assessing daily activity with an accelerometer, as well as performing specific functional tasks

Recruitment & Eligibility

Status: COMPLETED

Sex: Female

Target Recruitment: 301

Inclusion Criteria

Participants will be 18 to 70 years of age
Women may participate in the study, with the understanding that within the clinical population of fibromyalgia the there is a 7:1 ratio of female to male.
Diagnosis of Fibromyalgia by 1990 ACR criteria (11/18 tender points)
History of cervical or lumbar pain with fibromyalgia (this is expected in all patients since axial pain is required for diagnosis)
Current stable treatment regimen for the last 4 weeks and projected stable treatment regimen for the next 2 months.
English speaking

Exclusion Criteria

Current or history of cardiovascular, pulmonary, neurological, endocrine, or renal disease that would preclude the involvement in the study.
TENS use in the last 5 years
Pacemaker
Uncontrolled blood pressure or diabetes
Neuropathic pain condition
Systemic autoimmune disorder (Lupus, PMR, RA, Psoriasis, Psoriatic arthritis)
Spinal fusion - cervical or lumbar
Metal implants in cervical or lumbar region
Severe skin allergy to adhesive
Allergy to nickel
Pain level less than 4
Pregnancy
Epilepsy
Change in or new drug or treatment program within the last month or in the next 2months, i.e. must have a stable treatment plan
Unstable medical or psychiatric condition which in the opinion of the investigator could compromise the subject's welfare or confound the study results

Study & Design

Study Type: INTERVENTIONAL

Study Design: PARALLEL

Arm && Interventions

Group	Intervention	Description
ActiveTENS	TENS	Active TENS for 4 weeks of the study and will add an additional 4 weeks of active TENS for the last 4 weeks of the study.
Placebo TENS	TENS	This group will receive placebo TENS for the first 4 weeks of the study and then active TENS for the last four weeks of the study.

Primary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
Pain Rating With Movement (0-10 Low to High Scale) During Six Minute Walk Test	Time Frame: Baseline (Visit 2), 4 weeks (Visit 3, randomized to 3 groups), and 8 weeks (Visit 4, all groups home TENS	Numeric rating scale of 0-10 (low to high scale) for pain with movement during six minute walk test; Intention to treat analysis corrected for site (Iowa and Vanderbilt) differences. Mean change (from baseline, Visit 2) at Visit 3 (after 4 weeks of home TENS use, or placebo TENS, or no TENS) and at Visit 4 (after 4 weeks of home TENS all groups) with 95% adjusted confidence intervals. Change scores are presented for the randomized phase between Visit-2 and Visit-3, and for the difference from baseline at Visit 4 when all subjects received active-TENS. p-values represent post hoc comparisons between groups
Pain Rating With Movement (0-10 Low to High Scale) During Five Time Sit to Stand Test	Time Frame: Baseline (Visit 2), 4 weeks (Visit 3, randomized to 3 groups), and 8 weeks (Visit 4, all groups home TENS)	Numeric rating scale of 0-10 for pain with movement with five time sit to stand test. Intention to treat analysis corrected for site (Iowa and Vanderbilt) differences. Mean change (from baseline, Visit 2) at Visit 3 (after 4 weeks of home TENS use, or placebo TENS, or no TENS) and at Visit 4 (after 4 weeks of home TENS all groups) with 95% adjusted confidence intervals. Change scores are presented for the randomized phase between Visit-2 and Visit-3, and for the difference from baseline at Visit 4 when all subjects received active-TENS. p-values represent post hoc comparisons between groups

Secondary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
Fibromyalgia Impact Questionnaire Revised - Pain Rating (0-10 Low to High Scale)	Time Frame: Baseline (Visit 2), 4 weeks (Visit 3, randomized to 3 groups), and 8 weeks (Visit 4, all groups home TENS)	numeric rating scale 0 to 10 from the Fibromyalgia Impact Questionnaire Revised: Intention to treat analysis corrected for site (Iowa and Vanderbilt) differences. Mean change (from baseline, Visit 2) at Visit 3 (after 4 weeks of home TENS use, or placebo TENS, or no TENS) and at Visit 4 (after 4 weeks of home TENS all groups) with 95% adjusted confidence intervals. Change scores are presented for the randomized phase between Visit-2 and Visit-3, and for the difference from baseline at Visit 4 when all subjects received active-TENS. p-values represent post hoc comparisons between groups
Tampa Scale of Kinesiophobia (17 to 68 Low to High)	Time Frame: Baseline (Visit 2), 4 weeks (Visit 3, randomized to 3 groups), and 8 weeks (Visit 4, all groups home TENS)	Self report questionnaire with higher scores indicating greater kinesiophobia, score 17-68; Intention to treat analysis corrected for site (Iowa and Vanderbilt) differences. Mean change (from baseline, Visit 2) at Visit 3 (after 4 weeks of home TENS use, or placebo TENS, or no TENS) and at Visit 4 (after 4 weeks of home TENS all groups) with 95% adjusted confidence intervals. Change scores are presented for the randomized phase between Visit-2 and Visit-3, and for the difference from baseline at Visit 4 when all subjects received active-TENS. p-values represent post hoc comparisons between groups
Brief Pain Inventory - Interference (0-10 Low to High Scale)	Time Frame: Baseline (Visit 2), 4 weeks (Visit 3, randomized to 3 groups), and 8 weeks (Visit 4, all groups home TENS)	Brief Pain Inventory - Interference; Score 0-10 with higher score indicating greater interference; Intention to treat analysis corrected for site (Iowa and Vanderbilt) differences. Mean change (from baseline, Visit 2) at Visit 3 (after 4 weeks of home TENS use, or placebo TENS, or no TENS) and at Visit 4 (after 4 weeks of home TENS all groups) with 95% adjusted confidence intervals. Change scores are presented for the randomized phase between Visit-2 and Visit-3, and for the difference from baseline at Visit 4 when all subjects received active-TENS. p-values represent post hoc comparisons between groups
Brief Pain Inventory, Intensity (0-10 Low to High Scale)	Time Frame: Baseline (Visit 2), 4 weeks (Visit 3, randomized to 3 groups), and 8 weeks (Visit 4, all groups home TENS)	Brief Pain Inventory - Interference, Scale of 0-10 with higher score indicating greater intensity; Intention to treat analysis corrected for site (Iowa and Vanderbilt) differences. Mean change (from baseline, Visit 2) at Visit 3 (after 4 weeks of home TENS use, or placebo TENS, or no TENS) and at Visit 4 (after 4 weeks of home TENS all groups) with 95% adjusted confidence intervals. Change scores are presented for the randomized phase between Visit-2 and Visit-3, and for the difference from baseline at Visit 4 when all subjects received active-TENS. p-values represent post hoc comparisons between groups
Six Minute Walk Test	Time Frame: Baseline (Visit 2), 4 weeks (Visit 3, randomized to 3 groups), and 8 weeks (Visit 4, all groups home TENS)	6MWT - Feet walked as fast as comfortable in six minute; Intention to treat analysis corrected for site (Iowa and Vanderbilt) differences. Mean change (from baseline, Visit 2) at Visit 3 (after 4 weeks of home TENS use, or placebo TENS, or no TENS) and at Visit 4 (after 4 weeks of home TENS all groups) with 95% adjusted confidence intervals. Change scores are presented for the randomized phase between Visit-2 and Visit-3, and for the difference from baseline at Visit 4 when all subjects received active-TENS. p-values represent post hoc comparisons between groups
Five Time Sit to Stand Test Rate Per 10 Seconds	Time Frame: Baseline (Visit 2), 4 weeks (Visit 3, randomized to 3 groups), and 8 weeks (Visit 4, all groups home TENS)	Time for sit to stand for 5 repetitions converted to a rate of number of sit to stand per 10 seconds; Intention to treat analysis corrected for site (Iowa and Vanderbilt) differences. Mean change (from baseline, Visit 2) at Visit 3 (after 4 weeks of home TENS use, or placebo TENS, or no TENS) and at Visit 4 (after 4 weeks of home TENS all groups) with 95% adjusted confidence intervals. Change scores are presented for the randomized phase between Visit-2 and Visit-3, and for the difference from baseline at Visit 4 when all subjects received active-TENS. p-values represent post hoc comparisons between groups
Resting Pain (0-10 Low to High Scale)	Baseline, Visit 2 to Visit 3 (4 weeks, randomized to 3 groups) and Visit 4 (4 weeks, all groups home TENS)	Numeric rating scale of 0-10 for resting pain; Intention to treat analysis corrected for site (Iowa and Vanderbilt) differences. Mean change (from baseline, Visit 2) at Visit 3 (after 4 weeks of home TENS use, or placebo TENS, or no TENS) and at Visit 4 (after 4 weeks of home TENS all groups) with 95% adjusted confidence intervals. Change scores are presented for the randomized phase between Visit-2 and Visit-3, and for the difference from baseline at Visit 4 when all subjects received active-TENS. p-values represent post hoc comparisons between groups
Fatigue Rating (0-10 Low to High Scale) During Six Minute Walk Test	Time Frame: Baseline (Visit 2), 4 weeks (Visit 3, randomized to 3 groups), and 8 weeks (Visit 4, all groups home TENS)	Fatigue measured with 0-10 numeric rating scale during six minute walk test; Intention to treat analysis corrected for site (Iowa and Vanderbilt) differences. Mean change (from baseline, Visit 2) at Visit 3 (after 4 weeks of home TENS use, or placebo TENS, or no TENS) and at Visit 4 (after 4 weeks of home TENS all groups) with 95% adjusted confidence intervals. Change scores are presented for the randomized phase between Visit-2 and Visit-3, and for the difference from baseline at Visit 4 when all subjects received active-TENS. p-values represent post hoc comparisons between groups
Fibromyalgia Impact Questionnaire Revised	Time Frame: Baseline (Visit 2), 4 weeks (Visit 3, randomized to 3 groups), and 8 weeks (Visit 4, all groups home TENS)	Disease Impact self report Questionnaire, Scoring 0-100; higher score indicates greater disease impact; Intention to treat analysis corrected for site (Iowa and Vanderbilt) differences. Mean change (from baseline, Visit 2) at Visit 3 (after 4 weeks of home TENS use, or placebo TENS, or no TENS) and at Visit 4 (after 4 weeks of home TENS all groups) with 95% adjusted confidence intervals. Change scores are presented for the randomized phase between Visit-2 and Visit-3, and for the difference from baseline at Visit 4 when all subjects received active-TENS. p-values represent post hoc comparisons between groups
Short Form Survey 36; Mental Component Score (T Score Mean of 50)	Time Frame: Baseline (Visit 2), 4 weeks (Visit 3, randomized to 3 groups), and 8 weeks (Visit 4, all groups home TENS)	Multidimensional Self Report Questionnaire, T-score; Intention to treat analysis corrected for site (Iowa and Vanderbilt) differences. Mean change (from baseline, Visit 2) at Visit 3 (after 4 weeks of home TENS use, or placebo TENS, or no TENS) and at Visit 4 (after 4 weeks of home TENS all groups) with 95% adjusted confidence intervals. Change scores are presented for the randomized phase between Visit-2 and Visit-3, and for the difference from baseline at Visit 4 when all subjects received active-TENS. p-values represent post hoc comparisons between groups The SF36 Mental Health Component Score (MCS) quality of life measure. A T-Score of 50 represents the mean, with a standard deviation of 10, values less than 50 indicate a less than average score while values greater than 50 indicate greater than average scores" . Higher T-scores reflect better quality of life and lower T-score reflect lesser quality of life
Moderate Vigorous Physical Activity Minutes Per Day	Time Frame: Baseline (Visit 2), 4 weeks (Visit 3, randomized to 3 groups), and 8 weeks (Visit 4, all groups home TENS)	Accelerometry data classification of physical activity in minutes per day, percent change; Intention to treat analysis corrected for site (Iowa and Vanderbilt) differences. Mean change (from baseline, Visit 2) at Visit 3 (after 4 weeks of home TENS use, or placebo TENS, or no TENS) and at Visit 4 (after 4 weeks of home TENS all groups) with 95% adjusted confidence intervals. Change scores are presented for the randomized phase between Visit-2 and Visit-3, and for the difference from baseline at Visit 4 when all subjects received active-TENS. p-values represent post hoc comparisons between groups
Fatigue Rating (0-10 Low to High Scale) During Five Time Sit to Stand	Time Frame: Baseline (Visit 2), 4 weeks (Visit 3, randomized to 3 groups), and 8 weeks (Visit 4, all groups home TENS)	Fatigue measured by 0-10 numeric rating scale after five time sit to stand; Intention to treat analysis corrected for site (Iowa and Vanderbilt) differences. Mean change (from baseline, Visit 2) at Visit 3 (after 4 weeks of home TENS use, or placebo TENS, or no TENS) and at Visit 4 (after 4 weeks of home TENS all groups) with 95% adjusted confidence intervals. Change scores are presented for the randomized phase between Visit-2 and Visit-3, and for the difference from baseline at Visit 4 when all subjects received active-TENS. p-values represent post hoc comparisons between groups
Resting Fatigue Rating (0-10 Low to High Scale)	Time Frame: Baseline (Visit 2), 4 weeks (Visit 3, randomized to 3 groups), and 8 weeks (Visit 4, all groups home TENS)	Fatigue measured at rest with a 0-10 numeric rating scale; Intention to treat analysis corrected for site (Iowa and Vanderbilt) differences. Mean change (from baseline, Visit 2) at Visit 3 (after 4 weeks of home TENS use, or placebo TENS, or no TENS) and at Visit 4 (after 4 weeks of home TENS all groups) with 95% adjusted confidence intervals. Change scores are presented for the randomized phase between Visit-2 and Visit-3, and for the difference from baseline at Visit 4 when all subjects received active-TENS. p-values represent post hoc comparisons between groups
Short Form Survey 36 Physical Component Score (T-score Mean of 50) Higher Scores Indicating Better Health	Time Frame: Baseline (Visit 2), 4 weeks (Visit 3, randomized to 3 groups), and 8 weeks (Visit 4, all groups home TENS)	Multidimensional self report scale, T score change; Intention to treat analysis corrected for site (Iowa and Vanderbilt) differences. Mean change (from baseline, Visit 2) at Visit 3 (after 4 weeks of home TENS use, or placebo TENS, or no TENS) and at Visit 4 (after 4 weeks of home TENS all groups) with 95% adjusted confidence intervals. Change scores are presented for the randomized phase between Visit-2 and Visit-3, and for the difference from baseline at Visit 4 when all subjects received active-TENS. p-values represent post hoc comparisons between groups The SF36 Physical Functioning Component Score (PCS) quality of life measure. A T-Score of 50 represents the mean, with a standard deviation of 10, values less than 50 indicate a less than average score while values greater than 50 indicate greater than average scores" . Higher T-scores reflect better quality of life and lower T-score reflect lesser quality of life .