Samuel Larrivée1,2, Frédéric Balg2,3, Guillaume Léonard1,4, Sonia Bédard3, Michel Tousignant1,4, Patrick Boissy5,6,7. 1. Research Center on Aging CIUSSS Estrie CHUS, Sherbrooke, QC, Canada. 2. Department of Surgery, Division of Orthopedics, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Université de Sherbrooke, Sherbrooke, QC, Canada. 3. Research Center CRCHUS, CIUSSS Estrie CHUS, Sherbrooke, QC, Canada. 4. School of Rehabilitation, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Université de Sherbrooke, Sherbrooke, QC, Canada. 5. Research Center on Aging CIUSSS Estrie CHUS, Sherbrooke, QC, Canada. patrick.boissy@usherbrooke.ca. 6. Department of Surgery, Division of Orthopedics, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Université de Sherbrooke, Sherbrooke, QC, Canada. patrick.boissy@usherbrooke.ca. 7. Research Center CRCHUS, CIUSSS Estrie CHUS, Sherbrooke, QC, Canada. patrick.boissy@usherbrooke.ca.
Abstract
BACKGROUND:Subacromial pain syndrome (SAPS) is a common complaint in orthopaedics. Subacromial corticosteroid injections (CSI) can relieve pain in the short term. Anodal transcranial direct current stimulation (a-tDCS) has been used for symptomatic pain relief in a variety of chronic pain conditions. The aim of this pilot study was to assess whether the application a-tDCS could enhance the symptomatic relief provided by CSI in patients affected by SAPS. METHODS:Thirty-eight participants (18 to 65-year-old) suffering from SAPS were recruited to have a CSI and randomly allocated to receive, 1 weeks post CSI, real a-tDCS (r-tDCS), sham tDCS (s-tDCS) or no intervention (Control). Upper limb function was measured 1 week prior to the CSI, at the 2- and 4-week follow-ups using self-administered questionnaires and physical measures. Self-reported pain and activity during each day were logged by the participants using visual analog scales (VAS). Differences between groups were tested using repeated-measures ANOVAs. RESULTS:Pain VAS and the Single Assessment Numeric Evaluation scale (SANE) showed significant improvement from baseline 2 weeks and 4 weeks after CSI in all groups (p < 0.05). There were no significant group X time interaction 2 weeks following tDCS treatment in any of the variables. CONCLUSION: All groups showed significant improvement in pain VAS and SANE scores following the CSI. One session of a-tDCS treatment 2 weeks following CSI did not result in any additive or potentializing effects when compared to a s-tDCS or a control group. TRIAL REGISTRATION: ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT03967574 . Registered 30 May 2019 - Retrospectively registered.
RCT Entities:
BACKGROUND:Subacromial pain syndrome (SAPS) is a common complaint in orthopaedics. Subacromial corticosteroid injections (CSI) can relieve pain in the short term. Anodal transcranial direct current stimulation (a-tDCS) has been used for symptomatic pain relief in a variety of chronic pain conditions. The aim of this pilot study was to assess whether the application a-tDCS could enhance the symptomatic relief provided by CSI in patients affected by SAPS. METHODS: Thirty-eight participants (18 to 65-year-old) suffering from SAPS were recruited to have a CSI and randomly allocated to receive, 1 weeks post CSI, real a-tDCS (r-tDCS), sham tDCS (s-tDCS) or no intervention (Control). Upper limb function was measured 1 week prior to the CSI, at the 2- and 4-week follow-ups using self-administered questionnaires and physical measures. Self-reported pain and activity during each day were logged by the participants using visual analog scales (VAS). Differences between groups were tested using repeated-measures ANOVAs. RESULTS:Pain VAS and the Single Assessment Numeric Evaluation scale (SANE) showed significant improvement from baseline 2 weeks and 4 weeks after CSI in all groups (p < 0.05). There were no significant group X time interaction 2 weeks following tDCS treatment in any of the variables. CONCLUSION: All groups showed significant improvement in pain VAS and SANE scores following the CSI. One session of a-tDCS treatment 2 weeks following CSI did not result in any additive or potentializing effects when compared to a s-tDCS or a control group. TRIAL REGISTRATION: ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT03967574 . Registered 30 May 2019 - Retrospectively registered.
Authors: John Glaser; Scott T Reeves; William David Stoll; Thomas I Epperson; Megan Hilbert; Alok Madan; Mark S George; Jeffrey J Borckardt Journal: Spine (Phila Pa 1976) Date: 2016-05 Impact factor: 3.468