None listed
Conditions
Brief summary
One in five New Zealand adults suffers chronic pain, with Maori adults at risk of reporting chronic pain 1.36 times greater than non-Maori adults. Some chronic MSK pain sufferers exhibit neuropathic (NP)-like symptoms such as burning, numbness, and ‘pins and needles’. Emerging evidence suggests that the altered structural and physiological state of brain regions linked to pain experience is responsible for the maintenance of chronic pain states. Brain wave training (neurofeedback) is a biofeedback technique that can be used to modulate the altered brain activity and function of the brain regions associated with chronic pain states. This study, for the first time, investigates the potential of neurofeedback training for managing NP-like symptoms in people suffering from chronic MSK pain conditions.
Interventions
At the start of each session, participants will be seated in a chair with back support and asked to remain relaxed for 10 minutes while the trainer prepares them for the neurofeedback training. The Infraslow- Electroencephalography (EEG) - Neurofeedback training will be administered using a 21-channel DC-coupled amplifier. The Comby EEG lead cap with sensors of an appropriate size will be fitted to the participant’s head, with reference electrodes being placed at the mastoids. The impedance of t
At the start of each session, participants will be seated in a chair with back support and asked to remain relaxed for 10 minutes while the trainer prepares them for the neurofeedback training. The Infraslow- Electroencephalography (EEG) - Neurofeedback training will be administered using a 21-channel DC-coupled amplifier. The Comby EEG lead cap with sensors of an appropriate size will be fitted to the participant’s head, with reference electrodes being placed at the mastoids. The impedance of the active electrodes will be checked to continuously remain below five kilo-ohms. Participants will be advised to minimise eyeball, head and neck movements, swallowing, and clenching of teeth to minimise motion artifacts in the EEG data. Participants will be instructed to relax, keep their eyes closed, and listen to the audio feedback. The BrainMaster Technologies Software (BrainAvatar) will provide real-time auditory feedback each time the participant’s brain activity falls below the target threshold at the ROIs: dorsal anterior cingulate cortex (dACC) and right insula (RIns) in the ISF (0.0-0.1Hz) frequency band. The reward threshold will be continuously monitored by the trainer and adjusted manually (if needed). All participants will be required to attend 12 sessions (30-min each; three sessions per week; four consecutive weeks) of training. Assessment of clinical and EEG outcomes will be carried out at two separate sessions of 90-min duration: baseline assessment and immediately following the final treatment session. Direct observation method will be followed to ensure treatment adherence.
Sponsors
Jerin Mathew- University of Otago
Study design
Allocation
Non-randomised trial
Intervention model
Single group
Primary purpose
Treatment
Masking
Open (masking not used)
Eligibility
Sex/Gender
All
Age
35 Years to 75 Years
Healthy volunteers
No
Inclusion criteria
Participants between 35-75 years of age with Musculoskeletal pain [(measured by a greater than or equal to four on the 11-point numeric pain rating scale (NPRS)] on average for the past three months, for a minimum duration of three months and have a score of at least 19 points on the PainDETECT questionnaire will be eligible to participate in the study.
Exclusion criteria
Systemic rheumatic conditions, neurological conditions, major psychiatric illness, cervical and lumbar radiculopathy, peripheral entrapment neuropathies, cognitive impairment, has undergone any surgery/ intra-articular steroid injections in the three months prior to the study, has undergone any intra-articular hyaluronic acid injections in the six months prior to the study, has been scheduled to undergo any surgery within six months of enrolment to the study, former neurological procedures of the brain, pregnant or up to six months post-partum, cardiovascular disease, peripheral arterial diseases of limbs, uncontrolled hypertension (greater than or equal to 150/95), uncontrolled diabetes.
Outcome results
None listed