Pain Inhibitory Effects of Other Pain Induced by Mechanical Pressure Compared to Electrical Stimulation and Cold Water.

Not Applicable

Completed

• Conditions: Healthy
• Interventions: Other: Conditioning stimulus

• Registration Number: NCT05730127
• Lead Sponsor: Josue Fernandez Carnero

Brief Summary

The objective is to estimate the effects on pain thresholds of a painful mechanical stimulus on the upper trapezius compared to a painful electrical stimulus and a diffuse noxious stimulus using the cold water hand immersion test.

Detailed Description

The mechanical stimulus produced in manual therapy (MT) techniques elicits neurophysiological responses within the peripheral and central nervous system responsible for pain inhibition. Almost all types of MT elicit a neurophysiological response that is associated with the descending pain modulation circuit. But it has not been demonstrated whether this inhibition occurs through a conditioned pain modulation mechanism induced by painful mechanical stimulation that is carried out with manual therapy techniques.

Study Timeline

• Study First Submitted: 2023-02-06
• Study First Submitted QC: 2023-02-14
• Study Start: 2023-02-15
• Study First Posted: 2023-02-15
• Primary Completion: 2023-04-17
• Study Completion: 2023-04-21
• Status Verified: 2023-05
• Last Update Submitted: 2023-05-11
• Last Update Posted: 2023-05-12

Recruitment & Eligibility

• Status: COMPLETED
• Sex: All
• Target Recruitment: 24

Inclusion Criteria

• healthy male or female between 18 and 65 years
• Free of pain and with no history of chronic pain

Exclusion Criteria

• Pregnant or having given birth within the last year

Study & Design

• Study Type: INTERVENTIONAL
• Study Design: CROSSOVER

Arm && Interventions

Group	Intervention	Description
Cold pressor task	Conditioning stimulus	The non-dominant hand shall be placed in a bucket of cold water at 10.5° for 2 minutes.
Mechanical pressure stimulation	Conditioning stimulus	Mechanical compression is applied with the thumb to the upper trapezius muscle on the non-dominant side at the midpoint between the acromion and C7. The intensity of this will be regulated by the pain it causes the patient, trying to ensure that it is at all times approximately 5/10 on the numerical pain rating scale (NPRS) with 0 being "no pain at all" and 10 being "the worst pain imaginable". The stimulation will be carried out for 2 minutes.
Electrical stimulation	Conditioning stimulus	To perform this procedure a TENS will be used applying a biphasic current, since it is the most used and studied type of electrotherapy. A frequency of 100hz and a bandwidth of 150 will be used. The intensity will be increased and decreased with the patient's feeback in order to provoke a pain of approximately 5/10 in the NPRS. The stimulation will be performed for 2 minutes on the upper trapezius of the non-dominant side at the midpoint between acromion and C7.

Primary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
Change from Baseline in Tibialis Anterior Pressure Pain Threshold (PPT) to immediate post-conditioning stimulus	At baseline and immediately after the conditioning stimulus	PPTs will be assessed on the dominant side over the tibialis anterior muscle using a digital algometer (Wagner instruments, Greenwich, CT, USA). Participants will be instructed to say "stop" when the pressure sensation becomes painful. The average of 3 assessments on the tibialis anterior of the dominant side will be performed for analysis. The algometer pressure for assessment will be gradually increased at a rate of 1kg/second. Data will be collected in kg/cm2.

Trial Locations

Locations (1)

Universidad Rey Juan Carlos; 🇪🇸 Alcorcón, Madrid, Spain