Simon Hansen1, Henrik B Vaegter2,3, Kristian K Petersen1,4. 1. Department of Health Science and Technology, Center for Sensory-Motor Interaction (SMI). 2. Department of Anesthesiology and Intensive Care Medicine, Pain Research Group, Pain Center, University Hospital Odense. 3. Department of Clinical Research, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Southern Denmark, Odense, Denmark. 4. Department of Health Science and Technology, Center for Neuroplasticity and Pain, Faculty of Medicine, Aalborg University, Aalborg.
Abstract
OBJECTIVES: Exercise-induced hypoalgesia (EIH), a measure of descending pain inhibitory control, has been found hyperalgesic in subgroups of painful knee osteoarthritis (KOA) patients. The effect of standardized exercise therapy (ET) on clinical pain intensity in KOA has been demonstrated. However, the prognostic value of EIH in KOA patients completing an ET program has not been investigated. This study investigated the prognostic value of EIH on pain relief following ET in KOA patients. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In 24 painful KOA patients (Numerical Rating Scale, 0 to 10 ≥3), EIH was assessed as change in pressure pain threshold after 2-minute "lateral raises" before and after ET in this observational study. In addition, temporal summation of pain, clinical pain scores (Numerical Rating Scale, Knee injury and Osteoarthritis Outcome Score [KOOS], and PainDETECT Questionnaire) were assessed before and after ET. The KOOS-4 is defined by the KOOS subscale scores for Pain, Symptoms, Activities of Daily Living, and Quality of Life and was used as the primary outcome. RESULTS: Following ET, all clinical pain scores improved (P<0.01) but no changes in pressure pain threshold, temporal summation of pain, or EIH were found (P>0.05). Linear regression models identified pretreatment EIH (β=0.59, P<0.005) and PainDETECT Questionnaire (β=0.57, P<0.005) as independent factors for relative change in KOOS-4 after ET (adjusted R=46.8%). DISCUSSION: These preliminary and exploratory results suggest that patients with a high EIH response before a standardized ET program may be associated with a large improvement in pain after treatment. This measure may potentially help clinicians as a prognostic tool for outcome prediction following ET in KOA patients.
OBJECTIVES: Exercise-induced hypoalgesia (EIH), a measure of descending pain inhibitory control, has been found hyperalgesic in subgroups of painful knee osteoarthritis (KOA) patients. The effect of standardized exercise therapy (ET) on clinical pain intensity in KOA has been demonstrated. However, the prognostic value of EIH in KOA patients completing an ET program has not been investigated. This study investigated the prognostic value of EIH on pain relief following ET in KOA patients. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In 24 painful KOA patients (Numerical Rating Scale, 0 to 10 ≥3), EIH was assessed as change in pressure pain threshold after 2-minute "lateral raises" before and after ET in this observational study. In addition, temporal summation of pain, clinical pain scores (Numerical Rating Scale, Knee injury and Osteoarthritis Outcome Score [KOOS], and PainDETECT Questionnaire) were assessed before and after ET. The KOOS-4 is defined by the KOOS subscale scores for Pain, Symptoms, Activities of Daily Living, and Quality of Life and was used as the primary outcome. RESULTS: Following ET, all clinical pain scores improved (P<0.01) but no changes in pressure pain threshold, temporal summation of pain, or EIH were found (P>0.05). Linear regression models identified pretreatment EIH (β=0.59, P<0.005) and PainDETECT Questionnaire (β=0.57, P<0.005) as independent factors for relative change in KOOS-4 after ET (adjusted R=46.8%). DISCUSSION: These preliminary and exploratory results suggest that patients with a high EIH response before a standardized ET program may be associated with a large improvement in pain after treatment. This measure may potentially help clinicians as a prognostic tool for outcome prediction following ET in KOA patients.
Authors: Thomas Kurien; Robert W Kerslake; Thomas Graven-Nielsen; Lars Arendt-Nielsen; Dorothee P Auer; Kimberley Edwards; Brigitte E Scammell; Kristian Kjaer-Staal Petersen Journal: Eur J Pain Date: 2022-08-19 Impact factor: 3.651