1
|
Hubner FP, Ludwig AF, Barros MIG, Aragão FA, Carvalho ARD. Risk of unfavorable pain prognosis impacts walking physiomechanical parameters and psychophysiological workload in sufferers of chronic low back pain. J Bodyw Mov Ther 2024; 39:162-169. [PMID: 38876621 DOI: 10.1016/j.jbmt.2024.02.039] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/06/2023] [Revised: 11/28/2023] [Accepted: 02/25/2024] [Indexed: 06/16/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Tolerating physical tasks depends not only on task-specific characteristics but also on an individual's psychophysiological capacity to respond to the imposed load. People suffering from chronic low back pain (CLBP) may experience reduced psychophysiological capacity and are at risk for poor pain prognosis, which could lead to an increased walking workload. AIM To investigate how the risk of unfavorable pain prognosis in CLBP can impact walking physiomechanical parameters and psychophysiological workload. METHODS A cross-sectional observational study. The study classified 74 volunteers into four groups based on their prognosis for pain: pain-free control (CG/n = 20), low (LrG/n = 21), medium (MrG/n = 22), and high (HrG/n = 11) risk of poor prognosis for CLBP. The ground assessments identified the self-selected (SSW) and optimal (OWS) walking speeds, as well as the locomotor rehabilitation index (LRI). Treadmill assessments were conducted at two different speeds (0.83 and 1.11 m s-1, SSW and OWS) to record physiomechanical parameters. Psychophysiological workloads during walking were measured via workload impulse for the session (TRIMP), determined by variations in heart rate. RESULTS CLBP groups exhibited slower SSW and lower LRI compared to the CG. The TRIMP was lower in the LrG. However, both MrG and HrG exhibited a comparable overload to the CG, even while walking at a lower intensity with a psychophysical demand. SSW and OWS displayed an increased TRIMP compared to fixed speeds. CONCLUSION Psychosocial factors may affect SSW in people with CLBP but not among the risk strata. An unfavorable prognosis for pain could jeopardize the psychophysiological capacity to withstand walking demands.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Fernanda Peron Hubner
- Integrative Biodynamics Evaluation Laboratory, Western Paraná State University (Universidade Estadual do Oeste do Paraná - UNIOESTE), Cascavel, PR, Brazil
| | - André Franco Ludwig
- Integrative Biodynamics Evaluation Laboratory, Western Paraná State University (Universidade Estadual do Oeste do Paraná - UNIOESTE), Cascavel, PR, Brazil
| | - Márcia Izabeli Guimarães Barros
- Integrative Biodynamics Evaluation Laboratory, Western Paraná State University (Universidade Estadual do Oeste do Paraná - UNIOESTE), Cascavel, PR, Brazil
| | - Fernando Amâncio Aragão
- Human Movement Search Laboratory, Western Paraná State University (Universidade Estadual do Oeste do Paraná - UNIOESTE), Cascavel, PR, Brazil
| | - Alberito Rodrigo de Carvalho
- Integrative Biodynamics Evaluation Laboratory, Western Paraná State University (Universidade Estadual do Oeste do Paraná - UNIOESTE), Cascavel, PR, Brazil; Biosciences and Health Program, Western Paraná State University (Universidade Estadual do Oeste do Paraná - UNIOESTE), Cascavel, PR, Brazil.
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Chang MC, Briand MM, Boudier-Revéret M, Yang S. Effectiveness of transcranial alternating current stimulation for controlling chronic pain: a systematic review. Front Neurol 2023; 14:1323520. [PMID: 38192572 PMCID: PMC10773732 DOI: 10.3389/fneur.2023.1323520] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/18/2023] [Accepted: 12/06/2023] [Indexed: 01/10/2024] Open
Abstract
Background Chronic pain is common, disruptive, and often treatment-resistant. Hence, researchers and clinicians seek alternative therapies for chronic pain. Transcranial alternating current stimulation (tACS) is an emerging neuromodulation technique that non-invasively modulates neural oscillations in the human brain. tACS induces pain relief by allowing the neural network to restore adequate synchronization. We reviewed studies on the effectiveness of tACS in controlling chronic pain. Methods The PubMed, SCOPUS, Embase, and Cochrane Library databases were systematically searched for relevant studies published until December 6, 2023. The key search phrase for identifying potentially relevant articles was [(Transcranial Alternating Current Stimulation OR tACS) AND pain]. The following inclusion criteria were applied for article selection: (1) studies involving patients with chronic pain; (2) tACS was applied for controlling pain; and (3) follow-up evaluations were performed to assess the degree of pain reduction after the application of tACS. Results We identified 2,330 potentially relevant articles. After reading the titles and abstracts and assessing eligibility based on the full-text articles, we included four articles in our review. Among the included studies, tACS was used for fibromyalgia in one study, low back pain (LBP) in two studies, and migraine in one study. In the study on fibromyalgia, it did not show a better pain-reducing effect of tACS compared with sham stimulation. Two studies on LBP showed conflicting results. In migraine, tACS showed a positive pain-reducing effect 24-48 h after its application. Conclusion There is insufficient research to draw a conclusive judgment on the effectiveness of tACS in controlling chronic pain. More studies across various chronic pain-related diseases are required for a definitive conclusion.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Min Cheol Chang
- Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, College of Medicine, Yeungnam University, Daegu, Republic of Korea
| | - Marie-Michèle Briand
- Division of Trauma, Research Center, Hôpital du Sacré-Cœur de Montréal, CIUSSS du Nord-de-l’Île-de-Montréal, Montréal, QC, Canada
- Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Hôpital du Sacré-Cœur de Montréal, CIUSSS du Nord-de-l’Île-de-Montréal, Montréal, QC, Canada
- Faculty of Medicine, Université de Montréal, Montréal, QC, Canada
| | - Mathieu Boudier-Revéret
- Faculty of Medicine, Université de Montréal, Montréal, QC, Canada
- Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, University of Montreal Health Center, Montréal, QC, Canada
| | - Seoyon Yang
- Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, School of Medicine, Ewha Woman's University Seoul Hospital, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Takeuchi N. Pain control based on oscillatory brain activity using transcranial alternating current stimulation: An integrative review. Front Hum Neurosci 2023; 17:941979. [PMID: 36742359 PMCID: PMC9892942 DOI: 10.3389/fnhum.2023.941979] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/12/2022] [Accepted: 01/04/2023] [Indexed: 01/20/2023] Open
Abstract
Developing effective tools and strategies to relieve chronic pain is a high-priority scientific and clinical goal. In particular, the brain regions related to pain processing have been investigated as potential targets to relieve pain by non-invasive brain stimulation (NIBS). In addition to elucidating the relationship between pain and oscillatory brain activity, transcranial alternating current stimulation (tACS), which can non-invasively entrain oscillatory brain activity and modulate oscillatory brain communication, has attracted scientific attention as a possible technique to control pain. This review focuses on the use of tACS to relieve pain through the manipulation of oscillatory brain activity and its potential clinical applications. Several studies have reported that tACS on a single brain reduces pain by normalizing abnormal oscillatory brain activity in patients with chronic pain. Interpersonal tACS approaches based on inter-brain synchrony to manipulate inter-brain communication may result in pain relief via prosocial effects. Pain is encoded by the spatiotemporal neural communication that represents the integration of cognitive, emotional-affective, and sensorimotor aspects of pain. Therefore, future studies should seek to identify the pathological oscillatory brain communication in chronic pain as a therapeutic target for tACS. In conclusion, tACS could be effective for re-establishing oscillatory brain activity and assisting social interaction, and it might help develop novel approaches for pain control.
Collapse
|
4
|
Transkranielle Wechselstromstimulation zur Modulation von Oszillationen bei Schmerzerkrankungen. Schmerz 2022:10.1007/s00482-022-00684-4. [PMID: 36508031 DOI: 10.1007/s00482-022-00684-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/16/2022] [Revised: 11/07/2022] [Accepted: 11/08/2022] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Chronic pain is a common health problem, for which the treatment is complex and challenging. Non-invasive brain stimulation techniques, specifically transcranial alternating current stimulation (tACS), show promise as a well-tolerated new therapeutic modality with few side effects. This is supported by growing evidence of an association between altered neuronal oscillations and chronic pain. However, to date, only a handful of studies with variable methodology have evaluated tACS for potential applicability to patients with chronic pain. OBJECTIVES Presentation and discussion of the evidence thus far, evaluation of a potential therapeutic benefit for chronic pain patients. MATERIALS AND METHODS Literature search in MEDLINE, Embase, Cochrane Library, and Google Scholar databases. RESULTS To date, tACS for chronic pain therapy has been investigated in only three studies with very different methodological approaches and quality. DISCUSSION These data currently do not provide sufficient evidence for the therapeutic use of tACS for chronic pain therapy. Future studies may address the question of a therapeutic benefit of tACS for this indication utilizing improved stimulation techniques and considering existing recommendations for the design and conduct of tACS studies.
Collapse
|
5
|
Effect of neurofeedback therapy on neurological post-COVID-19 complications (A pilot study). PLoS One 2022; 17:e0271350. [PMID: 35895740 PMCID: PMC9328527 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0271350] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/29/2022] [Accepted: 06/28/2022] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Objective
Anxiety, fatigue and depression are common neurological manifestations after COVID-19. So far, post-COVID complications were treated by rehabilitation, oxygen therapy and immunotherapy. Effects of neurofeedback on post-COVID complications and their potential interrelatedness have not been studied yet. In this pilot study, we investigated the effectiveness of neurofeedback (Othmer method) for treatment of fatigue, anxiety, and depression after COVID-19.
Methods
10 participants met inclusion criteria for having positive anamnesis of at least one of the following complications following COVID-19: fatigue, anxiety, and depression which were measured by questionnaires. ANOVA was used for calculating differences in questionnaire score before and after neurofeedback. Pearson’s correlation coefficient was used to calculate correlations between anxiety, depression and fatigue.
Results
After five neurofeedback sessions, there came to significant reduction of severity of post-COVID anxiety and depression persisting for at least one month. Effect of neurofeedback on fatigue was insignificant. Severity of anxiety, fatigue and depression as well as reductions in depression and fatigue were positively correlated with each other.
Conclusion
These findings showed effectiveness neurofeedback for reducing anxiety and depression after COVID-19 and for studying correlations between neurological complications after COVID-19. However, since our pilot clinical trial was open-label, it is hard to differentiate between neurofeedback-specific and unspecific effects on our participants. Future randomized controlled trials with more robust sample are necessary to investigate feasibility of neurofeedback for post-COVID neurological complications. The study has identification number trial ID ISRCTN49037874 in ISRCTN register of clinical trials (Retrospectively registered).
Collapse
|
6
|
Rossi S, Santarnecchi E, Feurra M. Noninvasive brain stimulation and brain oscillations. HANDBOOK OF CLINICAL NEUROLOGY 2022; 184:239-247. [PMID: 35034738 DOI: 10.1016/b978-0-12-819410-2.00013-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/19/2022]
Abstract
Recent technological advances in the field of noninvasive brain stimulation (NIBS) have allowed to interact with endogenous brain oscillatory activity, the main neural communication code of our brain, opening new scenarios for transient modifications of cognitive and behavioral performances: such a possibility can be capitalized both for research purposes in healthy subjects, as well as in the context of therapeutic and rehabilitative settings. Among NiBS methodologies, transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) has been the first used to this purpose, and also thanks to the technical development of TMS-EEG co-registering systems, the mechanistic knowledge regarding the role of brain oscillations has been improved. Another approach to brain oscillations considers electric stimulation methods, such as transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS), and especially transcranial alternating current stimulation (tACS), for which -however- some technical and conceptual caveats have emerged. In this chapter, we briefly review the uses of NiBS in this field up to now, by providing an update on the current status of research applications as well as of its attempts of exploitation in translational clinical applications, especially regarding motor disorders and for understanding and reducing some psychiatric symptoms.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Simone Rossi
- Unit of Neurology and Clinical Neurophysiology, Department of Medicine, Surgery and Neuroscience, University of Siena, Siena, Italy.
| | - Emiliano Santarnecchi
- Unit of Neurology and Clinical Neurophysiology, Department of Medicine, Surgery and Neuroscience, University of Siena, Siena, Italy; Berenson-Allen Center for Non-invasive Brain Stimulation, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, United States
| | - Matteo Feurra
- Centre for Cognition and Decision Making, Institute for Cognitive Neuroscience, National Research University Higher School of Economics, Moscow, Russian Federation
| |
Collapse
|
7
|
May ES, Hohn VD, Nickel MM, Tiemann L, Gil Ávila C, Heitmann H, Sauseng P, Ploner M. Modulating Brain Rhythms of Pain Using Transcranial Alternating Current Stimulation (tACS) - A Sham-Controlled Study in Healthy Human Participants. THE JOURNAL OF PAIN 2021; 22:1256-1272. [PMID: 33845173 DOI: 10.1016/j.jpain.2021.03.150] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/17/2020] [Revised: 03/30/2021] [Accepted: 03/30/2021] [Indexed: 12/27/2022]
Abstract
Chronic pain is a major health care problem. A better mechanistic understanding and new treatment approaches are urgently needed. In the brain, pain has been associated with neural oscillations at alpha and gamma frequencies, which can be targeted using transcranial alternating current stimulation (tACS). Thus, we investigated the potential of tACS to modulate pain and pain-related autonomic activity in an experimental model of chronic pain in 29 healthy participants. In 6 recording sessions, participants completed a tonic heat pain paradigm and simultaneously received tACS over prefrontal or somatosensory cortices at alpha or gamma frequencies or sham tACS. Concurrently, pain ratings and autonomic responses were collected. Using the present setup, tACS did not modulate pain or autonomic responses. Bayesian statistics confirmed a lack of tACS effects in most conditions. The only exception was alpha tACS over somatosensory cortex where evidence was inconclusive. Taken together, we did not find significant tACS effects on tonic experimental pain in healthy humans. Based on our present and previous findings, further studies might apply refined stimulation protocols targeting somatosensory alpha oscillations. TRIAL REGISTRATION: The study protocol was pre-registered at ClinicalTrials.gov (NCT03805854). PERSPECTIVE: Modulating brain oscillations is a promising approach for the treatment of pain. We therefore applied transcranial alternating current stimulation (tACS) to modulate experimental pain in healthy participants. However, tACS did not modulate pain, autonomic responses, or EEG oscillations. These findings help to shape future tACS studies for the treatment of pain.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Elisabeth S May
- Department of Neurology, School of Medicine, Technical University of Munich (TUM), Munich, Germany; TUM-Neuroimaging Center, School of Medicine, TUM, Munich, Germany
| | - Vanessa D Hohn
- Department of Neurology, School of Medicine, Technical University of Munich (TUM), Munich, Germany; TUM-Neuroimaging Center, School of Medicine, TUM, Munich, Germany
| | - Moritz M Nickel
- Department of Neurology, School of Medicine, Technical University of Munich (TUM), Munich, Germany; TUM-Neuroimaging Center, School of Medicine, TUM, Munich, Germany
| | - Laura Tiemann
- Department of Neurology, School of Medicine, Technical University of Munich (TUM), Munich, Germany; TUM-Neuroimaging Center, School of Medicine, TUM, Munich, Germany
| | - Cristina Gil Ávila
- Department of Neurology, School of Medicine, Technical University of Munich (TUM), Munich, Germany; TUM-Neuroimaging Center, School of Medicine, TUM, Munich, Germany
| | - Henrik Heitmann
- Department of Neurology, School of Medicine, Technical University of Munich (TUM), Munich, Germany; TUM-Neuroimaging Center, School of Medicine, TUM, Munich, Germany; Center for Interdisciplinary Pain Medicine, School of Medicine, TUM, Munich, Germany
| | - Paul Sauseng
- Department of Psychology, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München, Munich, Germany
| | - Markus Ploner
- Department of Neurology, School of Medicine, Technical University of Munich (TUM), Munich, Germany; TUM-Neuroimaging Center, School of Medicine, TUM, Munich, Germany; Center for Interdisciplinary Pain Medicine, School of Medicine, TUM, Munich, Germany.
| |
Collapse
|
8
|
Orendáčová M, Kvašňák E. Effects of Transcranial Alternating Current Stimulation and Neurofeedback on Alpha (EEG) Dynamics: A Review. Front Hum Neurosci 2021; 15:628229. [PMID: 34305549 PMCID: PMC8297546 DOI: 10.3389/fnhum.2021.628229] [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: 11/11/2020] [Accepted: 06/03/2021] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Transcranial alternating current stimulation (tACS) and neurofeedback (NFB) are two different types of non-invasive neuromodulation techniques, which can modulate brain activity and improve brain functioning. In this review, we compared the current state of knowledge related to the mechanisms of tACS and NFB and their effects on electroencephalogram (EEG) activity (online period/stimulation period) and on aftereffects (offline period/post/stimulation period), including the duration of their persistence and potential behavioral benefits. Since alpha bandwidth has been broadly studied in NFB and in tACS research, the studies of NFB and tACS in modulating alpha bandwidth were selected for comparing the online and offline effects of these two neuromodulation techniques. The factors responsible for variability in the responsiveness of the modulated EEG activity by tACS and NFB were analyzed and compared too. Based on the current literature related to tACS and NFB, it can be concluded that tACS and NFB differ a lot in the mechanisms responsible for their effects on an online EEG activity but they possibly share the common universal mechanisms responsible for the induction of aftereffects in the targeted stimulated EEG band, namely Hebbian and homeostatic plasticity. Many studies of both neuromodulation techniques report the aftereffects connected to the behavioral benefits. The duration of persistence of aftereffects for NFB and tACS is comparable. In relation to the factors influencing responsiveness to tACS and NFB, significantly more types of factors were analyzed in the NFB studies compared to the tACS studies. Several common factors for both tACS and NFB have been already investigated. Based on these outcomes, we propose several new research directions regarding tACS and NFB.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Mária Orendáčová
- Department of Medical Biophysics and Medical Informatics, Third Faculty of Medicine, Charles University in Prague, Prague, Czechia
| | | |
Collapse
|