The journal of pain : official journal of the American Pain Society
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Controlled Clinical Trial
Reduction of pain and spinal nociceptive transmission by working memory is load dependant.
Working memory (WM) engagement produces pain inhibition. However, it remains unclear whether higher WM load increases this effect. The aim of this study was to investigate the interaction between WM load and pain inhibition by WM and examine the contribution of cerebrospinal mechanism. ⋯ NFR inhibition by WM suggests that inhibition of pain by WM depends, at least in part, on cerebrospinal mechanism. PERSPECTIVE: This behavioral and electrophysiological study shows that engaging in a cognitive task reduces pain by decreasing spinal nociceptive transmission, depending on task difficulty. These findings may yield better nonpharmacological pain therapies based on individual differences in working memory performance and capacity as well as several factors that regulate working memory.
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A growing body of evidence supports the modulation of pain by light exposure. As such, phototherapy is being increasingly utilized for the management of a variety of pain conditions. The modes of delivery, and hence applications of phototherapy, vary by wavelength, intensity, and route of exposure. ⋯ The mechanisms of photobiomodulation of pain presented in this review provide a foundation in furtherance of exploration of the utility of phototherapy as a tool in the management of pain. PERSPECTIVE: This review synopsizes the pathways and mechanisms through which light modulates pain and the therapeutic utility of different colors and exposure modalities of light on pain. Recent advances in photobiomodulation provide a foundation for understanding this novel treatment for pain on which future translational and clinical studies can build upon.
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Randomized Controlled Trial
Effects of dry needling on muscle stiffness in latent myofascial trigger points: a randomized controlled trial.
The aim of this study was to analyze the effects of dry needling (DN) in upper trapezius latent trigger points (LTrPs) on muscle stiffness. A total of 51 recreational physically active subjects with LTrPs in the upper trapezius volunteered to participate and were randomly divided into a DN-group (n = 27) and a sham-DN group (n = 24). Volunteers received 1-session of DN or placebo treatment. ⋯ There was a progressive decrease in post-needling soreness compared to pain during needling of 33.13 ± 21.31% at 30-min, 80.92 ± 10.06% at 24-hours, and a total decrease in post-needling soreness in all participants at 72-hours. DN therapy is effective in reducing short-term muscle stiffness and increasing the PPT in volunteers with LTrPs in the upper trapezius after a treatment session. PERSPECTIVE: This study found that one session of DN intervention in latent trigger points of the upper trapezius muscle reduced muscle stiffness and the pressure pain threshold for the dry needling group compared to the sham dry needling group.
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Randomized Controlled Trial
Pre-exposure, but not overshadowing, inhibits nocebo hyperalgesia.
Nocebo hyperalgesia is a pervasive problem that significantly adds to the burden of pain. Conditioning is a key mechanism of nocebo hyperalgesia and recent evidence indicates that, once established, nocebo hyperalgesia is resistant to extinction. This means that preventive strategies are critical. ⋯ PERSPECTIVE: Nocebo hyperalgesia causes substantial patient burden with few preventive options available. Our study found novel evidence that pre-exposing treatment cues without pain, but not overshadowing them with other cues, has the capacity to inhibit conditioned nocebo hyperalgesia. Pre-exposure may therefore be an effective preventive strategy to combat nocebo hyperalgesia.
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Randomized Controlled Trial
Effect of topical analgesia on desensitization following 8% topical capsaicin application.
To prevent pain associated with 8% capsaicin application, pretreatment with local anesthetics, such as EMLA (eutectic mixture of lidocaine 2.5% and prilocaine 2.5%), is considered an option. However, there is contradicting evidence regarding the effects of local analgesia on capsaicin-induced desensitization. In session 1, 2 skin areas in each forearm of 24 healthy volunteers were randomized to 2-hour pretreatment with EMLA/placebo cream. ⋯ The findings suggest that pretreatment with topical analgesic cream reduces application site pain without interfering with the 8% topical capsaicin-induced desensitization. PERSPECTIVE: Pretreatment with local anesthetic EMLA cream might be considered a good therapeutic option to reduce the pain associated with 8% capsaicin application currently used for treatment of neuropathic pain syndromes. This study also suggests the existence of a synergistic effect of capsaicin and EMLA on the process of neurogenic inflammation.