An interventional study of Active HD-tDCS and Sham HD-tDCS in Pain, Muscle and Healthy, sponsored by Aalborg University. Status unknown at 1 site in Denmark. Open to participants aged 18 Years to 60 Years, including healthy volunteers. Per ClinicalTrials.gov, last updated 2020-12-02.
Sponsored by Aalborg University · Not applicable, Interventional, and Basic science
The purpose of this double-blinded, parallel group randomized controlled trial is to investigate the effects of high definition transcranial direct current stimulation (HD-tDCS) on an experimental prolonged pain model in healthy subjects.
The purpose of this double-blinded, parallel group randomized controlled trial is to investigate the effects of high definition transcranial direct current stimulation (HD-tDCS) on an experimental prolonged pain model in healthy subjects. Forty healthy participants are administered the compound Nerve Growth Factor (NGF) in the right first dorsal interosseous muscle (FDI), which produced prolonged muscle soreness and hyperalgesia.
The forty participants are randomly allocated to either the control group receiving a Sham-tDCS paradigm, or the intervention group receiving three consecutive days of multimodal HD-tDCS targeting primary motor cortex (M1) and dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC) simultaneously.
The somatosensory profile is assessed at baseline, before administration of NGF as well as prior and post each HD-tDCS session using standardised quantitative sensory testing.
It is hypothesised that the active HD-tDCS will modulate the neurological changes induced by the experimental pain condition, which will alleviate the hyperalgesia and hypersensitivity.
282 studies on the registry are indexed under Myalgia; 43 are open to participants now.
This study's planned enrollment of 40 is close to the median of 44 across 241 interventional studies indexed under Myalgia.
Browse Myalgia studies →Aalborg University is the lead sponsor of 178 studies on the registry; 37 are open to participants now.
Counted across the registry records on this site, refreshed daily.
Exclusion Criteria:
Both groups will receive an injection with 5 μg (0.5 ml) Nerve Growth Factor (NGF) in the first dorsal interosseous muscle (FDI muscle) prior to the HD-tDCS intervention. This injection a pain model, that is intended to induce muscle soreness and hyperalgesia.
Device: Active HD-tDCS
Both groups will receive an injection with 5 μg (0.5 ml) Nerve Growth Factor (NGF) in the first dorsal interosseous muscle (FDI muscle) prior to the HD-tDCS intervention. This injection a pain model, that is intended to induce muscle soreness and hyperalgesia.
Device: Sham HD-tDCS
Using the Starstim 32, HD-tDCS equipment we provide 20 minutes of 2 mA anodal multimodal stimulation of dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC) and primary motor cortex simultaneously using ring-cathode configurations around the two anodes.
Using the Starstim 32, HD-tDCS equipment we provide sham stimulation with 30 seconds of ramping up to 2 mA intensity, then turning off for 19 minutes and then ramping down from 2 mA intensity to 0 in the last 30 seconds. This sham-configuration is intended to mimic the sensory experience of active HD-tDCS.
Change in pressure pain threshold.
A hand-held pressure algometer (Somedic, Hörby, Sweden) with a 1-cm2 probe will be used to record the pressure pain threshold. The pressure is increased gradually at a rate of 20 kPa/s. The measurement is repeated three times on the first dorsal interosseous muscle.
Time frame: Six assessments over three days: Baseline is assessed before any intervention at day one, and then the pain thresholds are assessed before and after each intervention on the subsequent two days.
Change in pressure pain tolerance.
A hand-held pressure algometer (Somedic, Hörby, Sweden) with a 1-cm2 probe will be used to record the pressure pain threshold at baseline. The pressure is increased gradually at a rate of 20 kPa/s. The measurement is repeated three times on the first dorsal interosseous muscle. The participant is asked to rate the pain on a numerical rating scale (NRS) from 0-10. 0 representing no pain at all, and 10 representing the worst pain imaginable.
Time frame: Six assessments over three days: Baseline is assessed before any intervention at day one, and then the pain thresholds are assessed before and after each intervention on the subsequent two days.
Change in tactile detection threshold
Tactile threshold will be measured using an anaesthesiometer consisting of a set of Von Frey filaments. The filaments are made of nylon fibre of various diameters so as to provide a range of forces of up to 300 grams. The minimum force that the subject can detect will be identified. This will be assessed on flexor carpi radialis on the right hand arm.
Time frame: Six assessments over three days: Baseline is assessed before any intervention at day one, and then the sensory thresholds are assessed before and after each intervention on the subsequent two days.
Change in mechanical pain threshold
Mechanical pain threshold (MPT) will be measured using a set of weighted pinprick stimulators with a flat contact area of 0.25 mm diameter that exert forces between 8 and 512 mN. Threshold procedures will use a method of limits with up to five series of ascending and descending stimulus intensities. This will be assessed on flexor carpi radialis on the right hand arm.
Time frame: Six assessments over three days: Baseline is assessed before any intervention at day one, and then the sensory thresholds are assessed before and after each intervention on the subsequent two days.
Change in conditioned pain modulation (CPM)
A computer-controlled cuff pressure algometer (Nocitech, Denmark) with an air-filled tourniquet cuff (VBM, Germany) will be used to record cuff pressure-induced pain thresholds over the muscle bulk on the calfs. The pressure is increased gradually at a rate of 1 kPa/s to assess pain tolerance on a 0-10 VAS scale, where 0 is no pain at all and 10 is the worst pain imaginable. During CPM testing, the pain tolerance is first assessed on one leg marking the baseline. The pressure pain tolerance is then assessed on the same leg again, while the contralateral calf is applied a simultaneous painful pressure stimulus. The outcome of the CPM testing is the difference in pressure pain tolerance measured in kPA between the first and the second assessment. The larger the positive difference is between the baseline and the second assessment, the stronger CPM effect the subject has.
Time frame: Three assessments over three days: Baseline is assessed before the stimulation at day one, and then again after the stimulation on the two subsequent days.
Change in temporal summation of pain (TSP).
TSP will be applied using cuff pressure algometry. A total of 10 repeated mechanical pressure stimuli will be delivered at 0.5 Hz (1-s stimuli duration and 1-s interval between stimuli) to the test area. During the 10 repeated stimuli, subjects will continuously rate the pain intensity on a 10-cm continuous VAS. TSP is assessed on the calf of the right leg.
Time frame: Three assessments over three days: Baseline is assessed before the stimulation at day one, and then again after the stimulation on the two subsequent days.
Change in electroencephalography response (EEG).
EEG will be recorded for four minutes prior to the HD-tDCS, during the HD-tDCS and four minutes immediately after the HD-tDCS. In the four minutes before and after HD-tDCS, the subject will have their eyes open for two minutes and their eyes closed for two minutes. The EEG data will be analyzed with a focus on the resting state. In particular the Alpha frequency brain waves are of interest, but exploratory analysis will be conducted on the Beta, Theta and Gamma frequency bands as well.
Time frame: Three assessments over three days: The EEG will be recorded as a part of the HD-tDCS intervention.
This study is status unknown, as verified in Dec 2020. You cannot join it, but the record below documents what was studied.
Get an email when the registry record changes — status, dates, results — or when someone posts here.
Sign in to followQuestions and observations about this study, from anyone following it. Not medical advice, and not a channel to the study team — their contact details are on the registry record.
Sign in to join the discussion. Reading takes no account; posting does. You choose a display name, and a pseudonym is the default.
Nothing here yet. If you are running this trial, taking part in it, or weighing whether to, this is the place to say so.
Aalborg University