Pain Inhibitory Effects of Other Pain Induced by Mechanical Pressure Compared to Electrical Stimulation and Cold Water.

Josue Fernandez Carnero

Status: Completed

Conditions: Healthy

Treatments: Other: Conditioning stimulus

Study type: Interventional

Funder types: Other

Identifiers

NCT05730127

MechCPM1

Details and patient eligibility

About

The objective is to estimate the effects on pain thresholds of a painful mechanical stimulus on the upper trapezius compared to a painful electrical stimulus and a diffuse noxious stimulus using the cold water hand immersion test.

Full description

The mechanical stimulus produced in manual therapy (MT) techniques elicits neurophysiological responses within the peripheral and central nervous system responsible for pain inhibition. Almost all types of MT elicit a neurophysiological response that is associated with the descending pain modulation circuit. But it has not been demonstrated whether this inhibition occurs through a conditioned pain modulation mechanism induced by painful mechanical stimulation that is carried out with manual therapy techniques.

Enrollment: 24 patients

Sex: All

Ages: 18 to 65 years old

Volunteers: Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

• healthy male or female between 18 and 65 years
• Free of pain and with no history of chronic pain

Exclusion criteria

• Pregnant or having given birth within the last year

Trial design

Primary purpose: Treatment

Allocation: Randomized

Interventional model: Crossover Assignment

Masking: Single Blind

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24 participants in 3 patient groups

Mechanical pressure stimulation

Experimental group

Description:

Mechanical compression is applied with the thumb to the upper trapezius muscle on the non-dominant side at the midpoint between the acromion and C7. The intensity of this will be regulated by the pain it causes the patient, trying to ensure that it is at all times approximately 5/10 on the numerical pain rating scale (NPRS) with 0 being "no pain at all" and 10 being "the worst pain imaginable". The stimulation will be carried out for 2 minutes.

Treatment:

Other: Conditioning stimulus

Electrical stimulation

Active Comparator group

Description:

To perform this procedure a TENS will be used applying a biphasic current, since it is the most used and studied type of electrotherapy. A frequency of 100hz and a bandwidth of 150 will be used. The intensity will be increased and decreased with the patient's feeback in order to provoke a pain of approximately 5/10 in the NPRS. The stimulation will be performed for 2 minutes on the upper trapezius of the non-dominant side at the midpoint between acromion and C7.

Treatment:

Other: Conditioning stimulus

Cold pressor task

Active Comparator group

Description:

The non-dominant hand shall be placed in a bucket of cold water at 10.5° for 2 minutes.

Treatment:

Other: Conditioning stimulus