Motor cortex transcranial direct current stimulation effects on knee osteoarthritis pain in elderly subjects with dysfunctional descending pain inhibitory system: A randomized controlled trial

Author(s)

Tavares, Daniela Regina Branda ^{[1, 2]} ; Okazaki, Jane Erika Frazao ^[2] ; Santana, Marcia Valeria de Andrade ^[2] ; Pinto, Ana Carolina Pereira Nunes ^{[2, 3]} ; Tutiya, Karina Kuraoka ^[1] ; Gazoni, Fernanda Martins ^{[1, 2]} ; Pinto, Camila Bonin ; Santos, Fania Cristina ^[1] ; Fregni, Felipe ^{[4, 5]} ; Trevisani, Virginia Fernandes Moca ^{[2, 6]}

Affiliation

^[1] Univ Fed Sao Paulo, Dept Geriatr & Gerontol, Sao Paulo, SP - Brazil

^[2] Univ Fed Sao Paulo, Brazilian Cochrane Ctr, Dept Evidence Based Med, Sao Paulo, SP - Brazil

^[3] Univ Pittsburgh, Dept Phys Therapy, Fullbright Program, Pittsburgh, PA - USA

^[4] Harvard Med Sch, Massachusetts Gen Hosp, Boston, MA 02115 - USA

^[5] Harvard Med Sch, Spaulding Rehabil Hosp, Dept Phys Med & Rehabil, Lab Neuromodulat, Boston, MA 02115 - USA

^[6] Univ Santo Amaro, Dept Rheumatol, Sao Paulo, SP - Brazil

• Document type: Journal article
• Source: BRAIN STIMULATION; v. 14, n. 3, p. 477-487, MAY-JUN 2021.
• Web of Science Citations: 0

Abstract

Background: Although evidence has indicated a positive effect of transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) on reducing pain, few studies have focused on the elderly population with knee osteoarthritis (KOA). Objective: To evaluate whether tDCS reduces KOA pain in elderly individuals with a dysfunctional descending pain inhibitory system (DPIS). Methods: In a double-blind trial, individuals > 60 years with KOA pain and a dysfunctional DPIS, we randomly assigned patients to receive 15 daily sessions of 2 mA tDCS over the primary motor cortex (anode) and contralateral supraorbital area (cathode) (M1-SO) for 20 min or sham tDCS. Change in pain perception indexed by the Brief Pain Inventory (BPI) at the end of intervention was the primary outcome. Secondary outcomes included: disability, quantitative sensory testing, pain pressure threshold and conditioned pain modulation (CPM). Subjects were followed-up for 2 months. Results: Of the 104 enrolled subjects, with mean (SD) age of 73.9 (8.01) years and 88 (84.6%) female, 102 finished the trial. In the intention-to-treat analysis, the active tDCS group had a significantly greater reduction in BPI compared to the sham group (difference, 1.59; 95% CI, 0.95 to 2.23; P < 0.001; Cohen \& rsquo;s d, 0.58); and, also a significantly greater improvement in CPM-pressure in the knee (P = 0.01) and CPMpain in the hand (P = 0.01). These effects were not sustained at follow-up. The intervention was well tolerated, with no severe adverse effects. Conclusion: M1-SO tDCS is associated with a moderate effect size in reducing pain in elderly patients with KOA after 15 daily sessions of stimulation. This intervention has also shown to modulate the DPIS. (c) 2021 Published by Elsevier Inc. This is an open access article under the CC BY-NC-ND license (http:// creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/). (AU)

• FAPESP's process: 17/09740-8 - Effects of Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation (tDCS) on Knee Osteoarthritis Pain in Elderly Subjects with Defective Endogenous Pain-Inhibitory System: Protocol for a Randomized Clinical Trial.
• Grantee: Virginia Fernandes Moça Trevisani
• Support Opportunities: Regular Research Grants