European journal of pain : EJP
-
Randomized Controlled Trial
Effects of repeated conditioning pain modulation in healthy volunteers.
Conditioned pain modulation (CPM) may be impaired in chronic pain patients compared with healthy subjects. The CPM-effect is the difference between pain sensitivity assessments (test-stimuli) with and without a painful conditioning stimulus. CPM has been extensively explored but effects of repeated CPM-effects and differences between repeated CPM assessments and comparable control conditions are less studied. ⋯ Conditioning pain modulation can be assessed in 5-min intervals by cuff algometry with a fixed conditioning stimulus. Without applying conditioning stimuli the pain sensitivity of test-stimuli habituated. As a consequence, it can be speculated that the conditioning stimulus may negate the temporal habituation effects during repeated sessions, whereas this may not be the case for unconditioned stimuli. Applying both conditioned and unconditioned repeated test-stimuli may be a way to assess different parts of the pain modulatory system, and a model for measuring a netCPM-effect, which could indicate a balance between habituation and sensitization, is proposed.
-
Randomized Controlled Trial
Impact of medial versus lateral knee pain on deep tissue hyperalgesia and muscle strength.
Accumulating evidence indicates that knee pain gives rise to sensory and motor alterations, however, whether different profile of knee pain causes different alterations has not been investigated. The purpose of this experimental study is to clarify characteristics of medial and lateral knee pain and its potential for modulating sensory and motor function in humans. ⋯ The experimental medial knee pain model demonstrated higher pain intensity, more localized pain distribution, widespread deep tissue hyperalgesia and more severe inhibition of muscle strength compared with the lateral knee pain model.
-
Randomized Controlled Trial Comparative Study
Comparison of orofacial thermal sensitivity assessed with simple devices and sophisticated equipment.
Simple thermal devices providing reliable data are needed to detect somatosensory disturbances in non-specialized clinical settings. Currently, evidence is lacking about their use. Therefore, the aim was to compare the assessment of perceived thermal sensitivity/pain in healthy humans with a state-of-the-art thermotester and with simple inexpensive customized thermal aluminium devices. ⋯ This study indicates that simple thermal devices to some extent can be used in a comparable way with sophisticated thermal stimulators. Therefore, they can be useful in clinical practice, where access to further equipment is lacking.
-
Randomized Controlled Trial Comparative Study
Comparison between radiofrequency ablation and chemical neurolysis of thoracic splanchnic nerves for the management of abdominal cancer pain, randomized trial.
Radiofrequency ablation (RFA) of the splanchnic nerves has been reported as a predictable and safe technique for abdominal pain management. We compare between RFA and chemical neurolysis of bilateral thoracic splanchnic nerves in the management of refractory cancer pain. ⋯ Radiofrequency ablation of the splanchnic nerves is safe and effective for relieving upper abdominal cancer pain.
-
Randomized Controlled Trial
Intensity-dependent effects of aerobic training on pressure pain threshold in overweight men: A randomized trial.
To investigate the chronic and acute effects of high-intensity interval training (HIIT) and moderate-intensity continuous training (MICT) on pressure pain thresholds (PPT) in overweight men. ⋯ This study shows that aerobic training increases pressure pain threshold in pain-free adults. This effect was observed only for MICT over-exercised muscles, implying intensity- and site-specific effects of exercise training on pain threshold.