Pain
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Randomized Controlled Trial
Effects of spatially targeted transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation using an electrode array that measures skin resistance on pain and mobility in patients with osteoarthritis in the knee: a randomized controlled trial.
A novel device was developed that measured local electrical skin resistance and generated pulsed local electrical currents that were delivered across the skin around the knee for patients with osteoarthritis (termed eBrace TENS). Currents were delivered using an electrode array of 16 small circular electrode elements so that stimulation could be spatially targeted. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of spatially targeted transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) to points of low skin resistance on pain relief and mobility in osteoarthritis of the knee (OAK). ⋯ Lowest-resistance TENS reduced pain intensity during walking relative to resting baseline compared with random TENS (95% confidence interval of the difference: -20.8mm, -1.26 mm). There were no statistically significant differences between groups in distance during the walk test, maximum voluntary contraction (MVC) or range-of-motion (ROM) measures or WOMAC scores. In conclusion, we provide evidence that use of a matrix electrode that spatially targets strong nonpainful TENS for 30 to 45 minutes at sites of low resistance can reduce pain intensity at rest and during walking.
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Pain in cancer patients remains common and is often associated with insufficient prescribing of targeted analgesia. An explanation for undertreatment could be the failure to identify neuropathic pain mechanisms, which require additional prescribing strategies. We wanted to identify the prevalence of neuropathic mechanisms in patients with cancer pain to highlight the need for detailed assessment and to support the development of an international classification system for cancer pain. ⋯ The prevalence of pain with a neuropathic mechanism (95% confidence interval) ranged from a conservative estimate of 18.7% (15.3% to 22.1%) to a liberal estimate of 21.4% (15.2% to 27.6%) of all recorded cancer pains. The proportion of pain caused by cancer treatment was higher in neuropathic pain compared with all types of cancer pain. A standardised approach or taxonomy used for assessing neuropathic pain in patients with cancer is needed to improve treatment outcomes.