Health TrialsbyHealthPanel

Muscle Synergies in Pain and Pain Anticipation

ConditionsPainNocebo EffectPain Anticipation
Trial statusRecruiting
Trial phaseNot applicable
Trial typeInterventional
Biological sexAll
Age18-35
SponsorUniversite de Picardie Jules Verne

About this trial

This study investigates how the anticipation of pain affects muscle synergies. One group will be recruited who will first experience actual pain from capsaicin cream and are then presented with a harmless cream deceptively labeled as capsaicin. The changes in muscle synergies will be measured during walking tasks.

Eligibility criteria

This trial accepts healthy volunteers

Qualifiers

Aged 18-35 years old

Healthy participant with no self-reported diagnosed neurological, musculoskeletal, or cardiovascular disorders

Body Mass Index (BMI) < 30

Ability to walk unaided for at least 10 minutes without major physical limitations

Disqualifiers

Presence of pain at the time of testing

Self-reported diagnosed condition affecting mobility

Known allergy to any component of the study cream

Allergy to EMG electrode adhesives

Trial design

Design model

Single group

Treatments tested in this trial

  • Pain expectation conditioning

    Other intervention

    Participants receive a neutral cream with no real harmful effects with verbal and behavioral suggestions that it may cause localized pain. Researchers wear gloves during application and emphasize the potential discomfort, stating effects may intensify with movement.

  • Gait assesment

    Other intervention

    Gait will be assessed both before and after cream application. Each assessment will consist of walking on a treadmill at varying speeds while physiological data (EMG) is recorded. Identical questionnaires (VAS, TAMPA, and PCS) will be administered immediately following the first gait assessment.

Treatment groups

12 Participants
are divided into 1 treatment group
Group A: Prior Experience GroupExperimental treatment 2 interventions

Trial outcomes

Primary outcomes

1

Distribution of muscle synergies derived by non-negative matrix factorization

Changes in the activation of the muscle synergies during the gait cycle.

Time frame
Before intervention, after intervention (10 minutes after cream application)
2

Changes in Muscle Synergy Composition derived by non-negative matrix factorization.

Changes in the composition of muscle synergies (i.e., the individuals muscles that comform one muscle synergy)

Time frame
Before intervention, after intervention (10 minutes after cream application)

Secondary outcomes

1

Tampa Scale for Kinesiophobia (TSK)

Tampa Scale of Kinesiophobia total score (17-68). Users rate 17 statements in a scale from 1 (Strongly disagree) to 4 (Strongly agree).

Time frame
Before intervention.

Other outcomes

Sponsors and contacts

Click on the lead sponsor to view all of their trials.

Universite de Picardie Jules Verne

Lead sponsor

Mitacs

Collaborator

Source ClinicalTrials.gov
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