AzTrials
AzTrials

Knee OsteoarthritisNCT01855958

Motor Cortex Plasticity and the Effect of Deep Intramuscular Needling Stimulation Therapy (DIMST) in Osteoarthritis Pain

A study testing DIMST in people with Knee Osteoarthritis and Chronic Pain, run by Hospital de Clinicas de Porto Alegre at 1 site in Brazil.

Completed

Finished. The study has ended and is not enrolling. Results may be posted on the official record.

Official record
Search all trials

Trial summary

The aim of this study is to evaluate the cortical excitability in pain of knee osteoarthritis (OA), as well as the effect of one session of a kind of electroacupuncture (deep needling intramuscular stimulation therapy - DIMST) in this pain and the cortical excitability after the intervention. Read more about this study

Who is it for?
Ages 18 years and older, women only
Conditions the study is for
Knee Osteoarthritis, Chronic Pain
What is being tested?
DIMST
Type of treatment
Surgery or procedure
Could I receive a placebo?
Yes, some participants may receive a placebo
How many people
26 participants
Where
1 siteBrazil
Study dates
Feb 2012to Jul 2012
Phase
Interventional
Are there results?
Yes, posted in the registrySummary in the doctors' view

Key requirements

Who can take part, as listed by the sponsor. Only the study team can confirm whether you are eligible, so take this list to your doctor.

  • Ages 18 years and older
  • Women only
  • No healthy volunteers
  • Adult, Older adult

Who may be able to join

  • Women with over 18 years old, with chronic pain because of primary osteoarthritis of the knee.
  • Pain stable for at least three months. Score greater than or equal to 3 cm (0 cm = "no pain" and "worst possible pain" = 10cm) on VAS for pain perception at baseline.
  • No contraindications to electro acupuncture or transcranial magnetic stimulation.
  • Naive in acupuncture treatment.

Who cannot join

  • Clinically significant or unstable disorder, medical or psychiatric.
  • Presence of neurological or rheumatic comorbidity.
  • Pregnancy.
  • Having performed surgery in the knee to be treated in the last 6 months, or be planning surgery for the next semester.
  • Having performed with corticosteroid infiltration in the last six weeks or are using this.
  • Having performed with hyaluronic acid infiltration.

Trial locations and contacts

1 site in 1 country.

Brazil1 site
  • Hospital de Clínicas de Porto Alegre.

    Porto Alegre, Rio Grande do Sul, 90035903

Other trials in Brazil

About this study

Official title: Primary Motor Cortex Plasticity and the Bottom up Effect of Deep Intramuscular Needling Stimulation Therapy (DIMST)in Osteoarthritis Chronic Pain

The aim of this study is to evaluate the cortical excitability in pain of knee osteoarthritis (OA), as well as the effect of one session of a kind of electroacupuncture (deep needling intramuscular stimulation therapy - DIMST) in this pain and the cortical excitability after the intervention.

The hypothesis is that cortical excitability is altered in this condition, confirming the findings already described in other chronic pain conditions. The investigators also believe that a session DIMST can reduce pain and alter cortical excitability, restoring its previous activity will occur from chronic pain.

Read the detailed description

Recent developments in the treatment of chronic pain have shown that the primary motor cortex (M1) is an effective target for neural brain stimulation techniques, such as transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS). Due to these promising initial results, the plasticity of M1 has also been investigated as a potential marker for chronic pain. TMS studies using single or paired pulse shown changes in M1 plasticity in neuropathic pain and fibromyalgia pain compared to healthy subjects. Thus, there is a decrease in the inhibitory activity of chronic pain that can take a state as shown uninhibited by measuring TMS indexed intracortical inhibition (ICI) and cortical silent period (CSP). Based on these experimental data and clinical studies have been focused on the effects of neuromodulation techniques in M1 excitability. The techniques used to stimulate the peripheral nervous system was investigated using different approaches. The DIMST is a therapy applied to treat peripheral chronic syndromes that may have central components such as myofascial pain. During DIMST, the needles are applied to the spinal segment associated with nerve roots dermatome corresponding to the pathology. This treatment can also be effective in the treatment of diseases that have major peripheral components such as OA. OA is a major cause of suffering and disability in the elderly, having an inflammatory component, such as a factor that contributes to the symptoms and progression of the disease. There is evidence that OA could lead to sensitization central and segmental, but these effects on M1 plasticity and other central components are not completely known.

Therefore, researchers proposed to evaluate the plasticity of M1 in this chronic pain condition and also the effect of bottom-up DIMST in pain and cortical excitability.

Being tested
DIMST, Placebo-sham
Keywords
Osteoarthritis, Electro acupuncture, Deep intramuscular stimulation, Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation, Pain pressure threshold, Conditioned pain modulation, Clinical trial
Medical subject headings
Osteoarthritis, Knee, Chronic Pain, Osteoarthritis

What participants receive

What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.

  • DIMSTProcedure or surgery

    Also called Paraspinal electro acupuncture.

    The investigators used electro acupuncture of 2 Hz during 30 minutes.

  • Placebo-shamProcedure or surgery

    Also called Electrostimulation with rubber electrodes.

    Electro acupuncture with rubber electrodes, without current passing.

Study groups in NCT01855958
Study groupRoleWhat they receive
DIMSTExperimentalThe investigators used acupuncture needles with guide tubes (Suzhou Huanqiu Acupuncture Medical Appliance Co. Ltd., 218, China) that were 40 mm in length and 0.25 mm in diameter. The needling in DIMST was applied using an electro acupuncture device (Cosmotron, São Paulo, Brazil) in the dermatomes corresponding to the nerve roots involved in the knee (L1, L2, L3, L4, L5, S1, and S2). DIMST using was administered maintaining a distance from the spinous process line of 2 cm. The anatomic sites of peripheral DIMST were the muscles vastus medialis, rectus femoris, vastus lateralis, tibialis anterior; and the pes anserinus bursae. All subjects received one 30min session using a frequency of 2 Hz.
Receives: Procedure: DIMST
Placebo-shamSham comparatorThe investigators used the same electro acupuncture device (Cosmotron, Sao Paulo, Brazil), which was previously set to prevent the current to pass through the electrodes. Subjects were informed that it would be a stimulus of low intensity and high frequency that they probably would not have any sense of it. The electrodes were placed on the same points where the active stimulation was applied while the nerve stimulation unit was left in front of the subject, for 30 minutes. This positioning ensured that the intermittent diode simulating the electrical stimulus was visible and audible.
Receives: Procedure: Placebo-sham

What is being measured

The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.

  1. Pain Pressure Threshold (PPT) After Intervention..

    PPT (alone): The patient was instructed to verbally report the perception of pain onset. The investigator assessed PPT using an electronic algometer (J Tech Medical Industries, USA). The device had a 1-cm2 hard-rubber probe, which was applied over structures at L1- L5 dermatome at the knee and at the contralateral forearm. The average values of PPT in kgf/cm2 for three successive readings taken at intervals of 3-5 min were used as the outcomes.

    # Below, the data after intervention.

    Measured: Before and within one hour after intervention.

  2. Motor Evoked Potential (MEP) After Intervention.

    Cortical excitability was assessed using a MagPro X100 (MagVenture Company, Lucernemarken, Denmark) and a figure-of-8 coil centered over the left motor cortex (M1). Subjects were seated in a comfortable reclining chair with their arms and hands lying relaxed on the armrests. The investigators measured the resting motor threshold (rMT) of the right first dorsal interosseous (FDI) muscle. The MEPs were recorded by surface electromyography (EMG) using Ag-AgCl cup electrodes in a belly tendon montage. Resting motor threshold (rMT) was defined as the stimulus intensity at which peak-to-peak MEP amplitude of 50 µV (microvolts) was obtained in at least 5 of 10 consecutive trials.

    MEP was defined as approximately 130% of the rMT or the stimulus intensity at which peak-to-peak MEP amplitude of at least 1 mV was obtained in 10 consecutive trials. The result of the MEP was the average of 10 curves (unconditioned MEP).

    # Below the data after intervention.

    Measured: Before and within one hour after intervention.

  3. Conditioned Pain Modulation (CPM) After Intervention.

    PPT during cold water immersion (PPT+CPM): By measuring PPT during cold water immersion, we evaluated the degree to which pain perception is modulated by conditioned pain modulation (CPM) following the presentation of an initial heterotopic noxious stimulus. Subjects immersed their left hands into cold water (zero to 1°C) for 1 minute. During the last 30 seconds of cold-water immersion, the PPT procedure was administered at the right forearm. The temperature was held constant across during the experiment for each subject.

    # Below the data after intervention.

    Measured: Before and within one hour after intervention.

Secondary outcomes (4)
  1. Intracortical Inhibition (ICI) After Intervention.

    ICI was evaluated using inter-stimuli intervals (ISIs) of 2 ms with paired-pulse stimulation. The subthreshold stimulus was set at 80% of rMT (conditioning stimulus) , and the suprathreshold test stimulus was set at 130% of rMT. After a randomized protocol, thirty stimuli were assessed using a 2ms interval (ICI), a 12ms interval (ICF) and test-only trials (MEPs). The resulting MEP amplitude was converted into the mean amplitude, and paired-pulse parameters were expressed as the amount of inhibition or facilitation. The calculation result of ICI was done by the ratio of the mean ICI by the mean MEP.

    # Below the data after intervention.

    Measured: Evaluated in one day. The cortical excitability before and within an hour after intervention.

  2. Pain Intensity After Intervention.

    The intensity of pain was measured by a 10-cm VAS. VAS scores ranged from no pain (zero) to the worst possible pain possible (10 cm). The pain score on VAS during the last 24 hours was used to classify the subjects into two groups: (1) absence of pain or mild pain (scores equal to or lower than 4 cm) and (2) moderate, intense, or worst possible pain (scores higher than 4 cm).

    # Below the data after intervention.

    Measured: Evaluated within twenty four hours before and within one hour after the intervention.

  3. Intracortical Facilitation (ICF) After Intervention.

    ICF was evaluated using an inter-stimuli intervals (ISIs) of 12 ms with paired-pulse and similar parameters for the conditioning and test stimuli. After a randomized protocol, thirty stimuli were assessed using a 2ms interval (ICI), a 12ms interval (ICF) and test-only trials (MEP). The resulting MEP amplitude was converted into the mean amplitude, and paired-pulse parameters were expressed as the amount of inhibition or facilitation. The calculation result of ICF was done by the ratio of the mean ICF by the mean MEP.

    # Below the data after intervention.

    Measured: Before and within one hour after intervention.

  4. Cortical Silent Period (CSP) After Intervention.

    To determine the cortical silent period (CSP), subjects were instructed to squeeze the dynamometer using their fingers at 20% of maximal force when a single pulse stimulus (130% rMT) was applied. The result was the average of five consecutive measurements. The CSP was determined by the interval between the stimulus and the motor response elicited in the subject.

    # Below the data after intervention.

    Measured: Evaluated before and within one hour after intervention.

Timeline

From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.

  1. First posted17 May 2013 (estimated)
  2. Study startFeb 2012
  3. Primary completionJun 2012
  4. Study completionJul 2012

Resources

More details

For doctors and researchers: how the study is designed, who runs it, and its registry IDs.

Study design
Study type
Interventional
Phase
Phase N/A
Primary purpose
Treatment
Allocation
Randomised
Intervention model
Parallel groups
Masking
Double blind
Who is masked
Participant, Outcomes assessor
Enrolment
26 participants (actual)
IDs, dates and publications
ClinicalTrials.gov ID
NCT01855958
Sponsor's protocol ID
11-0013
Status last verified
Aug 2015
First submitted
8 May 2013
Last updated
15 Sep 2017
Data monitoring committee
Yes

Publications

  • Lefaucheur JP, Drouot X, Menard-Lefaucheur I, Keravel Y, Nguyen JP. Motor cortex rTMS restores defective intracortical inhibition in chronic neuropathic pain. Neurology. 2006 Nov 14;67(9):1568-74. doi: 10.1212/01.wnl.0000242731.10074.3c.

    PubMed 17101886
  • Zunhammer M, Eichhammer P, Franz J, Hajak G, Busch V. Effects of acupuncture needle penetration on motor system excitability. Neurophysiol Clin. 2012 Jun;42(4):225-30. doi: 10.1016/j.neucli.2012.02.134. Epub 2012 Mar 6.

    PubMed 22632870
  • Lo YL, Cui SL. Acupuncture and the modulation of cortical excitability. Neuroreport. 2003 Jul 1;14(9):1229-31. doi: 10.1097/00001756-200307010-00008.

    PubMed 12824765
  • Imamura M, Imamura ST, Kaziyama HH, Targino RA, Hsing WT, de Souza LP, Cutait MM, Fregni F, Camanho GL. Impact of nervous system hyperalgesia on pain, disability, and quality of life in patients with knee osteoarthritis: a controlled analysis. Arthritis Rheum. 2008 Oct 15;59(10):1424-31. doi: 10.1002/art.24120.

    PubMed 18821657
  • Schwenkreis P, Scherens A, Ronnau AK, Hoffken O, Tegenthoff M, Maier C. Cortical disinhibition occurs in chronic neuropathic, but not in chronic nociceptive pain. BMC Neurosci. 2010 Jun 11;11:73. doi: 10.1186/1471-2202-11-73.

    PubMed 20540759
  • Laste G, Caumo W, Adachi LN, Rozisky JR, de Macedo IC, Filho PR, Partata WA, Fregni F, Torres IL. After-effects of consecutive sessions of transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) in a rat model of chronic inflammation. Exp Brain Res. 2012 Aug;221(1):75-83. doi: 10.1007/s00221-012-3149-x. Epub 2012 Jul 3.

    PubMed 22752510
  • Le Bars D, Dickenson AH, Besson JM. Diffuse noxious inhibitory controls (DNIC). II. Lack of effect on non-convergent neurones, supraspinal involvement and theoretical implications. Pain. 1979 Jun;6(3):305-327. doi: 10.1016/0304-3959(79)90050-2.

    PubMed 460936

Questions about this trial

What is this clinical trial studying?

A study testing DIMST in people with Knee Osteoarthritis and Chronic Pain, run by Hospital de Clinicas de Porto Alegre at 1 site in Brazil.

The full registered description is in the About this study section and the official record.

Who may be eligible to take part?

The sponsor lists 4 inclusion and 6 exclusion criteria. Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening, so read the full criteria and contact a listed site.

Is this clinical trial currently recruiting?

The record says: finished, as of the sponsor's last update on 15 Sep 2017. Status can change between updates, so confirm with the study contact before making plans.

Where is the study taking place?

The record lists 1 site in Brazil. Whether a site is taking part right now should be confirmed with that site. See every site.

What are the possible benefits and risks?

They depend on the study and the treatment, and no study can promise a benefit. Some participants in this study may receive a placebo. The study team explains the known risks during informed consent, before anyone joins; the record itself does not list them.

Are results available for this study?

Yes. Results are posted in the registry (first posted 22 Sep 2015). A summary is in the For doctors view, and the full results are on ClinicalTrials.gov.

How can a doctor refer a patient or contact the research team?

The record lists no contact. The official record names the sponsor, who can be asked directly. AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals.

What does the primary outcome measure?

Pain Pressure Threshold (PPT) After Intervention.. (time frame: Before and within one hour after intervention.). The study lists 3 primary outcomes in all. It is what the study was designed to measure, not a finding.

Where can I read the original study information?

On the ClinicalTrials.gov record for NCT01855958, which also lists 7 linked publications.

Does a listing mean the treatment is approved or proven to work?

No. A listing means the study is registered. It does not show that the treatment is safe, works, or is approved by a regulator.

How often is this information updated?

AzTrials copies changed records from ClinicalTrials.gov every night and reloads the whole registry every week. The sponsor last updated this record on 15 Sep 2017.

Free account

Log in to keep searching

You’ve used your 3 free searches. AzTrials is free: log in or create a free account to keep searching clinical trials and save the ones you want to follow.

Create a free accountLog in