Comparative Analysis of Heart Rate Variability in Patients with Cervical Pain, Lumbar Pain, and Healthy Controls

Universidad de Extremadura

Status: Completed

Conditions: Chronic Neck Pain; Chronic Low Back Pain (CLBP); Autonomic Nervous System Dysfunction; Heart Rate Variability

Study type: Observational

Funder types: Other

Identifiers

NCT06890793

09

Details and patient eligibility

About

This is a cross-sectional study designed to evaluate potential differences in heart rate variability (HRV) indices based on the affected body region (cervical vs lumbar) in individuals with chronic pain. The study will compare HRV parameters between three groups: individuals with chronic neck pain (CNP), individuals with chronic low back pain (CLBP), and a control group without pain. HRV will be assessed using a Firstbeat Bodyguard® device over a 10-minute period, and the data will be analyzed with Kubios® HRV software. The study aims to determine whether autonomic nervous system modulation differs depending on the location of chronic pain.

Enrollment: 93 patients

Sex: All

Ages: 18 to 65 years old

Volunteers: Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

• • Adults aged between 18 and 65 years.

For the chronic low back pain group:

• Diagnosis of chronic neck or low back pain lasting at least three months.
• A minimum pain intensity of 3/10 on the Numerical Pain Rating Scale (NPRS).

For the healthy group:

• Absence of any chronic or acute pathology.
• No regular medication that could alter autonomic nervous system function.
• No episodes of low back pain in the past six months.

Exclusion criteria

• Presence of uncontrolled neurological or cardiac disorders.
• Use of medications that could influence autonomic function or pain perception (e.g., opioids, antidepressants, benzodiazepines, anti-inflammatory drugs, beta-blockers) within two weeks prior to the study.
• Body Mass Index (BMI) equal to or greater than 30 kg/m².

Trial design

93 participants in 3 patient groups

Healthy Subjects

Description:

This group includes adults aged 18-65 years without any chronic or acute pathology, no regular medication that could alter autonomic nervous system function, and no low back pain in the past six months.

Chronic Low Back Pain Subjects

Description:

This group includes adults aged 18-65 years diagnosed with chronic low back pain lasting at least three months, with a minimum pain intensity of 3/10 on the Numerical Pain Rating Scale, and without uncontrolled neurological or cardiac disorders.

Chronic Neck Pain Subjects

Description:

This group includes adults aged 18-65 years diagnosed with chronic neck pain lasting at least three months, with a minimum pain intensity of 3/10 on the Numerical Pain Rating Scale, and without uncontrolled neurological or cardiac disorders.