Subthreshold Stimulation Versus Suprathreshold Stimulation in People With Chronic Low Neck Pain

Launched by BENI-SUEF UNIVERSITY · Aug 16, 2024

Keywords

ClinConnect Summary

This clinical trial is looking at different types of electrical stimulation to help people with chronic neck pain. Participants will be divided into three groups: one group will receive a low level of electrical stimulation (called subthreshold), another group will receive a higher level (called suprathreshold), and the third group will receive a placebo treatment, which means they won't get the real therapy. The goal is to see which type of stimulation is most effective in relieving neck pain.

To be eligible for this study, participants need to be between 40 and 65 years old, have experienced neck pain for more than six months that is quite severe (rated as 5 or higher on a pain scale), and have specific tender points in their neck muscles. However, those currently receiving other pain treatments, such as acupuncture or pain medications, or who have certain medical conditions that could affect their safety during the trial, cannot participate. If you join the trial, you will be closely monitored throughout the study to assess how the different types of stimulation affect your neck pain.

Gender

ALL

Eligibility criteria

• Inclusion Criteria:
• • Age from 40 to 65 years old participated in this study, 2
• • Having neck pain for more than 6 months with a grade five or greater on the visual analog scale
• • Having one or more trigger points in the upper trapezius muscle,
• • A significant increase in neck muscle EMG activity indicates the presence of tender points.
• Exclusion Criteria:
• • Taking non-pharmacological therapies (e.g., acupuncture, physical therapy, osteopathy)
• • Taking oral or intravenous pain therapy, intramuscular or subcutaneous injection of cortisone, or local anesthetics during the study period,
• • Presence of any contraindication to electrical current including pregnancy, epilepsy, cardiac arrhythmia, cardiac surgery, implanted pacemaker or defibrillator, previous surgery in the spinal cord, infectious diseases of the spinal cord, malignant tumors with or without secondary blastomas in the spinal cord, severe radicular pain with acute paralysis in the extremities