Journal article
Influence of transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) on pressure pain thresholds and conditioned pain modulation in a randomized controlled trial in women with fibromyalgia
The journal of pain, Vol.25(6), 104452
06/2024
DOI: 10.1016/j.jpain.2023.12.009
PMCID: PMC11128356
PMID: 38154621
Abstract
Transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) effectively reduces pain in fibromyalgia (FM). The purpose of this study was to examine the influence of TENS use on pressure pain thresholds (PPT) and conditioned pain modulation (CPM) in individuals with FM using data from the Fibromyalgia Activity Study with TENS (FAST) trial (NCT01888640). Individuals with FM were randomly assigned to receive active TENS, placebo TENS, or no TENS for four weeks. A total of 238 females satisfied the per-protocol analysis among the active TENS (n=76), placebo TENS (n=68), and no TENS (n=94) groups. Following 4 weeks of group allocation, the active TENS group continued for an additional 4 weeks of active TENS totaling 8 weeks (n=66), the placebo and no TENS groups transitioned to receive 4 weeks of active TENS (delayed TENS, n=161). Assessment of resting pain, movement-evoked pain (MEP), PPT, and CPM occurred prior to and following active, placebo, or no TENS. There were no significant changes in PPT or CPM among the active TENS, placebo TENS, or no TENS groups after 4 weeks. Individuals who reported clinically relevant improvements in MEP (≥30% decrease) demonstrated increases in PPT (p<.001), but not CPM, when compared to MEP non-responders. There were no significant correlations among the change in PPT or CPM compared to MEP and resting pain following active TENS use (active TENS + delayed TENS). PPT and CPM may provide insight to underlying mechanisms contributing to pain however, these measures may not relate to self-reported pain symptoms. PERSPECTIVE: Pressure pain threshold increased in individuals with clinically relevant improvement (≥30%) in MEP, indicating the clinical relevance of PPT for understanding mechanisms contributing to pain. CPM was not a reliable indicator of treatment response in MEP responders.
Details
- Title: Subtitle
- Influence of transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) on pressure pain thresholds and conditioned pain modulation in a randomized controlled trial in women with fibromyalgia
- Creators
- Giovanni Berardi - University of IowaDana L DaileyRuth Chimenti - University of IowaEricka Merriwether - New York University, New York, NYCarol Gt Vance - University of Iowa, Iowa City, IABarbara A Rakel - University of IowaLeslie J Crofford - Vanderbilt University Medical CenterKathleen A Sluka - University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA. Electronic address: kathleen-sluka@uiowa.edu
- Resource Type
- Journal article
- Publication Details
- The journal of pain, Vol.25(6), 104452
- DOI
- 10.1016/j.jpain.2023.12.009
- PMID
- 38154621
- PMCID
- PMC11128356
- NLM abbreviation
- J Pain
- eISSN
- 1528-8447
- Grant note
- DOI: 10.13039/100000002, name: National Institutes of Health, award: UM1-AR-063381; DOI: 10.13039/100000065, name: National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, award: U24NS112873-03S2; DOI: 10.13039/100006108, name: National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences, award: U54-TR-001356, UL1-TR-000445
- Language
- English
- Electronic publication date
- 12/26/2023
- Date published
- 06/2024
- Academic Unit
- Iowa Neuroscience Institute; Nursing; Physical Therapy and Rehabilitation Science; Neuroscience and Pharmacology
- Record Identifier
- 9984536845002771
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