The Clinical journal of pain
-
Randomized Controlled Trial
Effectiveness of leech therapy in chronic lateral epicondylitis: a randomized controlled trial.
Leech therapy has been found to be effective in osteoarthritis of the knee and hand in previous trials. Chronic epicondylitis is a prevalent pain syndrome with limited treatment options. In this study, we tested whether leech therapy would be beneficial in the symptomatic treatment of chronic lateral epicondylitis. ⋯ A single course of leech therapy was effective in relieving pain in the short-term and improved disability in intermediate-term. Leeches might be considered as an additional option in the therapeutic approach to lateral epicondylitis.
-
Randomized Controlled Trial
Effectiveness of a psychoeducational treatment program implemented in general practice for fibromyalgia patients: a randomized controlled trial.
A recent meta-analysis concluded that multicomponent treatments are effective for some fibromyalgia (FM) symptoms. The objective of this study was to examine whether a psychoeducational intervention implemented in primary care is more effective than usual care for improving the functional status of patients with FM. ⋯ A 2-month psychoeducational intervention improves the functional status of FM patients to a greater extent than usual care, at least in the short-term. The social desirability bias did not explain the reported outcomes. Trait anxiety was associated with response to treatment.
-
Randomized Controlled Trial
Differential frequency effects of strong nonpainful transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation on experimentally induced ischemic pain in healthy human participants.
Electrophysiological studies show frequency-dependent effects of transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) in animal models of hyperalgesia. Evidence of frequency-dependent effects of TENS in humans is conflicting. ⋯ Strong nonpainful TENS delivered at 80 pps reduced experimentally induced ischemic pain when compared with TENS delivered at 3 pps.
-
Our primary goals were to determine whether preexisting fear of pain and pain sensitivity contributed to post-exercise pain intensity. ⋯ Combined, these findings suggest that the initial reports of pain after injury may be more strongly influenced by fear whereas the inflammatory process and pain sensitivity may play a larger role for later pain intensity reports.
-
To investigate the effect of experimental neck muscle pain on the activation of the cervical extensor muscles during the performance of a cervical extension exercise by the use of muscle functional magnetic resonance imaging. ⋯ This is the first study that has shown pain to immediately affect the activity of both deep and superficial cervical extensor muscle layers during a cervical extension exercise. The findings support recommendations for evaluation of cervical extensor muscle function early in the management of painful cervical spine injuries.