Influence of Percutaneous Electrolysis on Endogenous Pain Modulation

NCT04710992 | Completed

• 1 other identifier: Electrolysis550
• Study Type: interventional
• Target: 46
• Locations: 1 country
• Sites: 1

Brief Summary

Percutaneous electrolysis is a minimally invasive approach that consists in the application of a galvanic current through an acupuncture needle. Although several mechanisms and effects are attributed to percutaneous electrolysis, currently there are only a few publications that delve into this topic. The aim of this study is to investigate the influence of percutaneous electrolysis on the endogenous pain modulation. Four groups of intervention will be involved: no-intervention, isolated needling procedure, low intensity percutaneous electrolysis and high intensity percutaneous electrolysis. The effects on the pain modulation system will be evaluated before and immediately after the intervention, through pressure pain thresholds, conditioned pain modulation and temporal summation.

Conditions

Pain

Keywords

Electric Stimulation Therapy; Randomized Clinical Trial; Interventional Ultrasonography; Percutaneous Electrolysis; Endogenous Pain Modulation; Pain; Conditioned Pain Modulation; Sensory Thresholds

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (1)

• Change from baseline Conditioned Pain Modulation (evaluated by pressure algometry) immediately after the intervention

  Assessed by algometry. Conditioning stimulus: pressure cuff on the arm. Measured at three locations (bilaterally): common extensor tendon of the epicondyle, cervical spine and tibialis anterior muscle.

  Baseline and immediately after the intervention

Secondary Outcomes (2)

• Change from baseline Pressure Pain Thresholds immediately after the intervention

  Baseline and immediately after the intervention

• Change from baseline Temporal Summation (evaluated by VNRS) immediately after the intervention

  Baseline and immediately after the intervention

Study Arms (3)

Needling Group

SHAM COMPARATOR

The needle will be inserted for 90 seconds without galvanic current.

Procedure: Isolated needling procedure

Low intensity percutaneous electrolysis

EXPERIMENTAL

A single impact of galvanic current will be applied with an intensity of 0.3 mA for 90 seconds.

Procedure: Low intensity percutaneous electrolysis

High intensity percutaneous electrolysis

EXPERIMENTAL

Three impacts of galvanic current will be applied with an intensity of 3 mA and a duration of 3 seconds each.

Procedure: High intensity percutaneous electrolysis

Interventions

Isolated needling procedure PROCEDURE

The needle will be inserted into the common extensor tendon of the epicondyle (dominant elbow) for 90 seconds without galvanic current.

Needling Group

Low intensity percutaneous electrolysis PROCEDURE

Once the needle is located in the common extensor tendon of the epicondyle (dominant elbow), a single impact of galvanic current will be applied with an intensity of 0.3 mA for 90 seconds.

Low intensity percutaneous electrolysis

High intensity percutaneous electrolysis PROCEDURE

The needle will be inserted in the target position during the same time as in the other groups (90 seconds). During the first stage of intervention the needle will be imbedded without galvanic current and when the end of the application time approaches (approximately 75 seconds) three impacts of galvanic current will be applied with an intensity of 3 mA and a duration of 3 seconds each.

High intensity percutaneous electrolysis

Eligibility Criteria

• Age: 18 Years - 40 Years
• Sex: all
• Healthy Volunteers: Yes
• Age Groups: Adult (18-64)

You may qualify if:

• Healthy asymptomatic subjects
• Aged 18 to 40 years
• Both genders

You may not qualify if:

• Belonephobia or fear of needles
• Neurological, cardiovascular or metabolic diseases
• Any pathology or process that causes pain
• Cutaneous alterations
• Pregnancy
• Cognitive and sensitivity disorders
• Fibromyalgia
• Frequent or recent (24 hours before) intake of alcohol and other drugs
• Have received pharmacological, physiotherapeutic or other treatment in the last week
• Intake of caffeine in the two hours prior to measurement
• Vigorous physical activity on the day of testing

Sponsors & Collaborators

• University of Salamanca: lead

Study Sites (1)

Facultad de Enfermería y Fisioterapia de la Universidad de Salamanca

Salamanca, 37007, Spain

Location

Related Publications (7)

• Garcia Bermejo P, De La Cruz Torres B, Naranjo Orellana J, Albornoz Cabello M. Autonomic Responses to Ultrasound-Guided Percutaneous Needle Electrolysis: Effect of Needle Puncture or Electrical Current? J Altern Complement Med. 2018 Jan;24(1):69-75. doi: 10.1089/acm.2016.0339. Epub 2017 Jan 30.

  PMID: 28135129 BACKGROUND

• Valera-Garrido F, Minaya-Munoz F, Medina-Mirapeix F. Ultrasound-guided percutaneous needle electrolysis in chronic lateral epicondylitis: short-term and long-term results. Acupunct Med. 2014 Dec;32(6):446-54. doi: 10.1136/acupmed-2014-010619. Epub 2014 Aug 13.

  PMID: 25122629 BACKGROUND

• Abat F, Diesel WJ, Gelber PE, Polidori F, Monllau JC, Sanchez-Ibanez JM. Effectiveness of the Intratissue Percutaneous Electrolysis (EPI(R)) technique and isoinertial eccentric exercise in the treatment of patellar tendinopathy at two years follow-up. Muscles Ligaments Tendons J. 2014 Jul 14;4(2):188-93. eCollection 2014 Apr.

  PMID: 25332934 BACKGROUND

• Nir RR, Yarnitsky D. Conditioned pain modulation. Curr Opin Support Palliat Care. 2015 Jun;9(2):131-7. doi: 10.1097/SPC.0000000000000126.

  PMID: 25699686 BACKGROUND

• Fernandez-de-Las-Penas C, Nijs J. Trigger point dry needling for the treatment of myofascial pain syndrome: current perspectives within a pain neuroscience paradigm. J Pain Res. 2019 Jun 18;12:1899-1911. doi: 10.2147/JPR.S154728. eCollection 2019.

  PMID: 31354339 BACKGROUND

• Damien J, Colloca L, Bellei-Rodriguez CE, Marchand S. Pain Modulation: From Conditioned Pain Modulation to Placebo and Nocebo Effects in Experimental and Clinical Pain. Int Rev Neurobiol. 2018;139:255-296. doi: 10.1016/bs.irn.2018.07.024. Epub 2018 Aug 14.

  PMID: 30146050 BACKGROUND

• Sanchez-Gonzalez JL, Navarro-Lopez V, Calderon-Diez L, Varela-Rodriguez S, Fernandez-de-Las-Penas C, Sanchez-Sanchez JL. Effectiveness of different percutaneous electrolysis protocols in the endogenous modulation of pain: A Double-Blinded Randomized Clinical Trial. Musculoskelet Sci Pract. 2023 Nov;68:102872. doi: 10.1016/j.msksp.2023.102872. Epub 2023 Oct 11.

  PMID: 37847947 DERIVED

MeSH Terms

Conditions

Pain

Condition Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Neurologic Manifestations; Signs and Symptoms; Pathological Conditions, Signs and Symptoms

Study Design

• Study Type: interventional
• Phase: not applicable
• Allocation: RANDOMIZED
• Masking: DOUBLE
• Who Masked: PARTICIPANT, OUTCOMES ASSESSOR
• Purpose: BASIC SCIENCE
• Intervention Model: PARALLEL
• Sponsor Type: OTHER
• Responsible Party: PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR
• PI Title: PhD candidate

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: January 10, 2021
• First Posted: January 15, 2021
• Study Start: October 3, 2022
• Primary Completion: December 23, 2022
• Study Completion: December 23, 2022
• Last Updated: January 26, 2023

Record last verified: 2023-01

Locations

ES (1)