scholarly journals Understanding Central Mechanisms of Acupuncture Analgesia Using Dynamic Quantitative Sensory Testing: A Review

2013 ◽  
Vol 2013 ◽  
pp. 1-12 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jiang-Ti Kong ◽  
Rosa N. Schnyer ◽  
Kevin A. Johnson ◽  
Sean Mackey
Keyword(s):  
Pain Modulation ◽  
Conditioned Pain Modulation ◽  
Acupuncture Analgesia ◽  
Mechanistic Studies ◽  
Sensory Testing ◽  
Descending Inhibition ◽  
Future Directions ◽  
Nociceptive Transmission ◽  
Clinical Pain ◽  
Neurophysiological Data

We discuss the emerging translational tools for the study of acupuncture analgesia with a focus on psychophysical methods. The gap between animal mechanistic studies and human clinical trials of acupuncture analgesia calls for effective translational tools that bridge neurophysiological data with meaningful clinical outcomes. Temporal summation (TS) and conditioned pain modulation (CPM) are two promising tools yet to be widely utilized. These psychophysical measures capture the state of the ascending facilitation and the descending inhibition of nociceptive transmission, respectively. We review the basic concepts and current methodologies underlying these measures in clinical pain research, and illustrate their application to research on acupuncture analgesia. Finally, we highlight the strengths and limitations of these research methods and make recommendations on future directions. The appropriate addition of TS and CPM to our current research armamentarium will facilitate our efforts to elucidate the central analgesic mechanisms of acupuncture in clinical populations.

Enhanced Itch Intensity Is Associated with Less Efficient Descending Inhibition Processing for Itch But Not Pain Attenuation in Chronic Dermatology Patients

Pain Medicine ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 21 (10) ◽  
pp. 2538-2545
Author(s):  
Michal Granot ◽  
Sarit Yakov ◽  
Michal Ramon
Keyword(s):  
Health Care ◽  
Brief Pain Inventory ◽  
Pain Modulation ◽  
Conditioned Pain Modulation ◽  
Descending Inhibition ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Dermatology Clinic ◽  
Clinical Pain ◽  
The Individual ◽  
Pain Symptoms

Abstract Objectives The study aims were 1) to investigate the direction of mutual inhibitory pathways on itch intensity by utilizing conditioned pain modulation paradigms for pain and itch attenuation and 2) to explore whether itch severity is affected by the individual pain sensitivity profile, as well as pain scores reported during the tests and the past week. Design Cross-sectional. Setting Testing was conducted at the Department of Dermatology, Rambam Health Care Campus. Subjects Forty patients suffering from chronic skin disorders associated with itch and treated in the Dermatology Clinic at Rambam Health Care Campus participated in the study. Methods Efficacy of descending inhibition was evaluated by two conditioned pain modulation (CPM) paradigms: by pruriception (CPMItch) induced by cold and heat as counterstimuli to inhibit itch intensity and by nociception (CPMPain). Severity and interference of clinical pain were assessed using the Brief Pain Inventory (BPI). Results Robust CPMItch responses were obtained following the various noxious stimulations. No associations were observed between CPMPain and CPMItch, itch severity, skin disease severity, and clinical pain symptoms. According to the linear regression model, itch severity was independently associated with less efficient CPMItch (B = –0.750, P < 0.001) and more efficient CPMPain (B = 0.031, P = 0.016), which affects itch in opposing manners. Conclusions Findings indicate that the intrinsic capacity to inhibit pain and itch by exposure to exogenous noxious stimuli autonomously affects itch intensity in an opposing manner. These findings may shed new light on the mutual mechanistic similarity and dissimilarity between pain and itch and their hierarchy.

Development of a novel brief quantitative sensory testing protocol that integrates static and dynamic pain assessments: Test-retest performance in healthy adults

Pain Medicine ◽  
2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Martin J De Vita ◽  
Katherine Buckheit ◽  
Christina E Gilmour ◽  
Dezarie Moskal ◽  
Stephen A Maisto
Keyword(s):  
Quantitative Sensory Testing ◽  
Temporal Summation ◽  
Pain Threshold ◽  
Pain Modulation ◽  
Healthy Adults ◽  
Dynamic Responses ◽  
Conditioned Pain Modulation ◽  
Sensory Testing ◽  
Contact Heat ◽  
Intraclass Correlations

Abstract Objective Quantitative sensory testing is an expanding pain research domain with numerous clinical and research applications. There is a recognized need for brief reliable quantitative sensory testing protocols that enhance assessment feasibility. This study aimed to integrate static (pain threshold, tolerance, suprathreshold) and dynamic (conditioned pain modulation, offset analgesia, temporal summation) pain reactivity measures into a brief 20-minute protocol that uses a single portable device. The test-retest performance of this optimized protocol was evaluated. Design Using a test-retest design, the brief quantitative sensory testing assessment was administered to participants on two occasions separated by exactly 7 days. Setting A clinical psychology research laboratory at Syracuse University. Subjects Participants were 33 healthy adults recruited from Syracuse University’s online research participation pool. Methods A portable computerized quantitative sensory testing device delivered contact-heat pain to assess static and dynamic pain measures in participants. Dynamic responses were continuously recorded using a computerized visual analog scale. Results Pain threshold, tolerance, and suprathreshold exhibited excellent reliability (intraclass correlations ranged from 0.80 to 0.83). Conditioned pain modulation, offset analgesia, temporal summation yielded reliability in the good to excellent range (intraclass correlations ranged from 0.66 to 0.71). Conclusions Findings suggested that this brief integrated QST protocol may reliably monitor human pain reactivity over brief periods. This protocol may enhance quantitative sensory testing feasibility in clinical and research settings.

scholarly journals A pilot study investigating whether quantitative sensory testing alters after treatment in patients with fibromyalgia

2018 ◽  
Vol 12 (4) ◽  
pp. 250-256 ◽  
Author(s):  
Theresa Wodehouse ◽  
Kavita Poply ◽  
Shankar Ramaswamy ◽  
Saowarat Snidvongs ◽  
Julius Bourke ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Pilot Study ◽  
Quantitative Sensory Testing ◽  
Fibromyalgia Impact Questionnaire ◽  
Pain Modulation ◽  
Conditioned Pain Modulation ◽  
Sensory Testing ◽  
Central Sensitisation ◽  
Pain Thresholds ◽  
Pressure Pain ◽  
Pressure Pain Thresholds

Background: Fibromyalgia is a chronic musculoskeletal pain condition that is often associated with sleep disturbances and fatigue. The pathophysiology of fibromyalgia is not understood, but indirect evidence suggests a central dysfunction of the nociceptive modulating system. The aim of this study was to evaluate whether quantitative sensory testing detects a change in pain thresholds in fibromyalgia patient receiving pregabalin treatment. Methods: A total of 25 patients were recruited for the study and received routine pregabalin, but only 14 patients completed the treatment. Assessment of pressure pain thresholds and changes in conditioned pain modulation using ischaemic pain as a conditioning stimulus were measured at baseline and every 4 weeks for 12 weeks. Fibromyalgia impact questionnaire, PainDETECT and SF-12 were also completed. Results: Patients with fibromyalgia demonstrated a less-efficient conditioned pain modulation at baseline. An efficient conditioned pain modulation was observed at 1 month and this was maintained until the final visit. Pressure pain thresholds (PPTs) showed a significant improvement from baseline. Patients also reported a similar magnitude of improvements in PainDETECT, fibromyalgia impact questionnaire (FIQ) and its impact on daily life and change in outcome for SF-12. Conclusion: This pilot study reports an increase in PPTs and improved conditioned pain modulation response after commencing pregabalin, which was maintained at 12 weeks, and this was supported by positive pain scores. Pregabalin is a licenced treatment for fibromyalgia in Europe, and its response to central sensitisation, particularly ‘dynamic responses’, has not been reported. We conclude that pregabalin has the potential to reduce peripheral and central sensitisation in patients with fibromyalgia, as measured using quantitative sensory testing.

Effect of conditioned pain modulation on trigeminal somatosensory function evaluated by quantitative sensory testing

Pain ◽  
2013 ◽  
Vol 154 (12) ◽  
pp. 2684-2690 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yuka Oono ◽  
Lene Baad-Hansen ◽  
Kelun Wang ◽  
Lars Arendt-Nielsen ◽  
Peter Svensson
Keyword(s):  
Quantitative Sensory Testing ◽  
Pain Modulation ◽  
Conditioned Pain Modulation ◽  
Sensory Testing ◽  
Somatosensory Function

scholarly journals Differences in Pain Processing Between Patients with Chronic Low Back Pain, Recurrent Low Back Pain, and Fibromyalgia

2017 ◽  
Vol 4 (20;4) ◽  
pp. 307-318
Author(s):  
Mira Meeus
Keyword(s):  
Low Back Pain ◽  
Back Pain ◽  
Temporal Summation ◽  
Spatial Summation ◽  
Pain Modulation ◽  
Conditioned Pain Modulation ◽  
Pain Processing ◽  
Low Back ◽  
Sensory Testing ◽  
Recurrent Low Back Pain

Background: The impairment in musculoskeletal structures in patients with low back pain (LBP) is often disproportionate to their complaint. Therefore, the need arises for exploration of alternative mechanisms contributing to the origin and maintenance of non-specific LBP. The recent focus has been on central nervous system phenomena in LBP and the pathophysiological mechanisms underlying the various symptoms and characteristics of chronic pain. Knowledge concerning changes in pain processing in LBP remains ambiguous, partly due to the diversity in the LBP population. Objective: The purpose of this study is to compare quantitative sensory assessment in different groups of LBP patients with regard to chronicity. Recurrent low back pain (RLBP), mild chronic low back pain (CLBP), and severe CLBP are compared on the one hand with healthy controls (HC), and on the other hand with fibromyalgia (FM) patients, in which abnormal pain processing has previously been reported. Study Design: Cross-sectional study. Setting: Department of Rehabilitation Sciences, Ghent University, Belgium. Methods: Twenty-three RLBP, 15 mild CLBP, 16 severe CLBP, 26 FM, and 21 HC participated in this study. Quantitative sensory testing was conducted by manual pressure algometry and computercontrolled cuff algometry. A manual algometer was used to evaluate hyperalgesia as well as temporal summation of pain and a cuff algometer was used to evaluate deep tissue hyperalgesia, the efficacy of the conditioned pain modulation and spatial summation of pain. Results: Pressure pain thresholds by manual algometry were significantly lower in FM compared to HC, RLBP, and severe CLBP. Temporal summation of pain was significantly higher in FM compared to HC and RLBP. Pain tolerance thresholds assessed by cuff algometry were significantly lower in FM compared to HC and RLBP and also in severe CLBP compared to RLBP. No significant differences between groups were found for spatial summation or conditioned pain modulation. Limitations: No psychosocial issues were taken into account for this study. Conclusion: The present results suggest normal pain sensitivity in RLBP, but future research is needed. In mild and severe CLBP some findings of altered pain processing are evident, although to a lesser extent compared to FM patients. In conclusion, mild and severe CLBP presents within a spectrum, somewhere between completely healthy persons and FM patients, characterized by pain augmentation. Key words: Low back pain, fibromyalgia, pain assessment, quantitative sensory testing, central sensitization, hypersensitivity, temporal summation, spatial summation, conditioned pain modulation

Cardiovascular influences on conditioned pain modulation

Pain ◽  
2013 ◽  
Vol 154 (8) ◽  
pp. 1377-1382 ◽  
Author(s):  
Philippe Chalaye ◽  
Laurent Devoize ◽  
Sylvie Lafrenaye ◽  
Radhouane Dallel ◽  
Serge Marchand
Keyword(s):  
Pain Modulation ◽  
Conditioned Pain Modulation
Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document