Infrared Thermography for the Diagnosis of Musculoskeletal Pain

Completed

• Conditions: Pain; Temperature Change, Body; Healthy

• Registration Number: NCT04097249
• Lead Sponsor: Universidad San Jorge

Brief Summary

This study sought to evaluate the vasomotor response in the pain referral area of healthy individuals, performing the same procedure with and without the experience of delayed onset muscle soreness.

Detailed Description

Validity of infrared thermography for properly diagnosing musculoskeletal pain and their clinical applicability is lacking. This study investigates temperature changes on the upper extremity before and after a suprathreshold stimulation (painful stimulus) with a digital algometer over the infraspinatus muscle. The same procedure is performed in two consecutive days, 24 hours apart (Day-1 and Day-2). At the end of Day-1, an eccentric exercise is performed in order to to induce delayed onset muscle soreness on the external rotators of the shoulder.

Study Timeline

• Study Start: 2015-10-01
• Primary Completion: 2016-04-29
• Study Completion: 2016-04-30
• Status Verified: 2019-09
• Study First Submitted: 2019-09-18
• Study First Submitted QC: 2019-09-18
• Last Update Submitted: 2019-09-18
• Study First Posted: 2019-09-20
• Last Update Posted: 2019-09-20

Recruitment & Eligibility

• Status: COMPLETED
• Sex: All
• Target Recruitment: 20

Inclusion Criteria

• Being healthy and free from any pain specific to the upper limbs and/or in general.

Exclusion Criteria

• Previous history of chronic pain.
• Any systemic diseases or regional pathology which can interfere with the outcome measures.

Study & Design

• Study Type: OBSERVATIONAL
• Study Design: Not specified

Primary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
Changes in temperature of pixels on the upper extremity: infrared thermography	Day-1 (baseline assessment, pre exercise before painful stimulus), Day-1 (baseline assessment, pre exercise after painful stimulus), Day-2 (24 hours post-exercise before painful stimulus), Day-2 (24 hours post-exercise after painful stimulus)	A thermography image of the upper extremity of the body will be taken on both days of assessment before and after applying a painful stimulus. Changes in colour pixels will be analysed to determine temperature changes.

Secondary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
Changes in Pressure Pain Thresholds: pressure algometry	Day-1 (baseline assessment, pre exercise before painful stimulus), Day-2 (24 hours post-exercise before painful stimulus)	Changes in pressure pain thresholds will be determined with pressure algometry over the infraspinatus muscle. Pressure Pain Threshold is defined as the exact time point where the pressure is first being perceived as painful.