Highlights
- •Remotely-supervised cranial electrical stimulation reduced clinical pain.
- •Remotely-supervised cranial electrical stimulation was feasible.
- •Remotely-supervised cranial electrical stimulation was well tolerated.
Abstract
Cranial electrical stimulation (CES) is a noninvasive brain stimulation technique
that has been shown to improve pain. However, few studies have investigated the potential
benefits associated with remotely supervised CES in older adults with knee osteoarthritis
(OA). The aim of this study was to examine the feasibility and preliminary efficacy
of remotely supervised CES via secure videoconferencing software on clinical pain
severity, experimental pain sensitivity, and pain-related cortical response in older
adults with knee OA. Thirty participants with symptomatic knee OA pain were randomly
assigned to receive 10 daily sessions (60 min each) of remotely supervised CES (n = 15)
or sham CES (n = 15) over two weeks. We measured clinical pain severity via a Numeric
Rating Scale, experimental pain sensitivity (e.g., heat pain sensitivity, pressure
pain sensitivity, and conditioned pain modulation) using quantitative sensory testing,
and pain-related cortical response via functional near-infrared spectroscopy imaging.
We also measured participant satisfaction with treatment using the Client Satisfaction
Questionnaire. Active CES significantly reduced scores on the Numeric Rating Scale
and increased heat pain threshold, pressure pain thresholds, and conditioned pain
modulation. We also found significant changes in pain-related cortical hemodynamic
activity after CES. Participants tolerated CES well without serious adverse effects
and were satisfied with the treatment. Our findings demonstrate promising clinical
efficacy of remotely supervised CES for older adults with knee OA.
Keywords
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Article info
Publication history
Published online: May 10, 2020
Accepted:
May 2,
2020
Received:
April 2,
2020
Identification
Copyright
© 2020 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.