MedTrace Logo

Sensory Processing and Musculoskeletal Shoulder Pain

NCT05368649 · Status: COMPLETED · Phase: NA · Type: INTERVENTIONAL · Enrollment: 64

Last updated 2023-09-29

No results posted yet for this study

Summary

The development of chronic pain is a common complication in shoulder pain conditions. Half of these type of patients exhibit persistent pain even after a period of six to twelve months from the start of their pain treatment. Persistent pain is most likely a result of different biological alterations, including but not limited to tissue damage. Another potential cause is neurogenic inflammation, which can be triggered by applying excessive mechanical stress to a structure or region. Neurogenic inflammation can lead to peripheral sensitization and sensitizing the musculoskeletal tissues in the process, and this sensitization will last until the input is removed. Nevertheless, even though peripheral factors are sufficient to perpetuate pain, the role of central mechanisms cannot be excluded as a potential cause of sensitization. Moreover, the evidence is not conclusive about deficiencies in pain modulation processes and presence of central mechanisms in chronic pain conditions.

It is well known that chronic shoulder pain presents a multi-factorial nature. Hypersensitivity in this condition has been linked to persistent activation of peripheral nerves, which can result in an increased excitability of the sensory input and reduced inhibitory effect of pain modulatory mechanisms. On the other hand, the role the central sensitization plays is not completely clear in this type of patients, but could also contribute to the hypersensitivity in some patients.However, it has been shown that there is a remarkable variability in the presence of central effects among chronic patients. The aim of this study is to evaluate changes in sensory processing and in pain modulatory mechanisms in individuals with and without shoulder pain.

Conditions

  • Shoulder Pain
  • Healthy Volunteers

Interventions

OTHER

Short-wave diathermy

The SWD will be applied using a CEC M-8 shortwave thermotherapy unit (CEC Electrónica S.R.L., Argentina) that emits RF at a frequency of 27.12 MHz. The device has two rectangular capacitive applicators (18 × 12 cm), which will be placed below and above the dominant shoulder. The coplanar application will be done using the continuous wave mode. The intensity of SWD will be gradually increased until the volunteer perceives a sensation of heat, and once familiar with this perception, the intensity will be increased until a sensation of constant but tolerable pain is evoked. This sensation will be maintained throughout the SWD application, and three repetitions will be performed. Healthy volunteers will be in a lateral supine position, and a cotton towel will be used to absorb perspiration and avoid unwanted heat effects.

Sponsors & Collaborators

  • University of Gran Rosario

    lead OTHER

Study Design

Allocation
NON_RANDOMIZED
Purpose
BASIC_SCIENCE
Masking
SINGLE
Model
PARALLEL

Eligibility

Min Age
18 Years
Max Age
35 Years
Sex
ALL
Healthy Volunteers
Yes

Timeline & Regulatory

Start
2022-04-01
Primary Completion
2023-08-08
Completion
2023-08-08

Countries

  • Argentina

Study Locations

More Related Trials

Read the full study record

This page highlights key information. For complete eligibility criteria, study locations, investigator contacts, and the full protocol, visit the original record on ClinicalTrials.gov.

View NCT05368649 on ClinicalTrials.gov