- ICH GCP
- US Clinical Trials Registry
- Clinical Trial NCT01512576
Does Acupuncture Activate Endogenous Pain Inhibition in Chronic Whiplash?
Does Acupuncture Activate Endogenous Pain Inhibition in Chronic Whiplash Associated Disorders? A Randomized Cross-over Trial
Study Overview
Status
Conditions
Intervention / Treatment
Detailed Description
Many patients with chronic pain, including those with chronic whiplash-associated disorders (WAD), show features of central sensitization (CS), a process characterized by generalized hypersensitivity of the somatosensory system. it would be worthwhile identifying treatments able of activating the dysfunctional endogenous pain inhibition in patients with CS and chronic WAD.
Acupuncture is a treatment method widely used for patients with chronic pain, including those with chronic WAD. The effectiveness of acupuncture for the treatment of chronic (neck) pain is supported by several randomized controlled clinical trials, systematic reviews including meta-analyses. However, the effect-sizes are rather small and only short-term effects have been shown consistently.
A randomized cross-over trial comparing acupuncture with relaxation is conducted in order to examine whether acupuncture vs. relaxation for patients with chronic WAD results in:
- Immediate activation of endogenous pain inhibition (i.e. conditioned pain modulation);
- Concomitant pain relief;
- And reduced disability level. Further it is examined whether acupuncture vs. relaxation results in different autonomic nervous system responses.
Study Type
Enrollment (Actual)
Phase
- Phase 2
Contacts and Locations
Study Locations
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Brussel, Belgium, B-1050
- Vrije Universiteit Brussel
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Participation Criteria
Eligibility Criteria
Ages Eligible for Study
Accepts Healthy Volunteers
Genders Eligible for Study
Description
Inclusion Criteria:
- a diagnosis of chronic WAD grade 1 to 3 according to the criteria as defined by the Quebec Task Force classification
- chronic neck pain and WAD persisting for at least 3 months
- age between 18 and 65 years
Exclusion Criteria:
- classified as WAD grade 4 (neck complaints including fracture or dislocation, or injury to the spinal cord)
- pregnant
- initiated a new conventional therapy during the study period
- taking analgesic drugs 48 hours before testing and/or nicotine, alcohol and caffeine 24 hours before testing
Study Plan
How is the study designed?
Design Details
- Primary Purpose: TREATMENT
- Allocation: RANDOMIZED
- Interventional Model: CROSSOVER
- Masking: DOUBLE
Arms and Interventions
Participant Group / Arm |
Intervention / Treatment |
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EXPERIMENTAL: acupuncture
All patients were treated at the basic points bilaterally situated in the local region (neck), distal region (low back, arms and legs) and ear.
In addition, acupuncture treatment was performed according to the rules of traditional Chinese medicine and was semi-standardized.
This means that the therapist was allowed to choose from a list of the following acupuncture points: GV14, Huatuojiaji C1-C7, GB20, SI11, GB21, TE15, SI14, BL17, MT10, SI3, BL64, TE5, GB41, Zero point, Jerome point, C0.
The combination of acupuncture points were chosen individually, according to the patients' self-reported symptoms.
In order to obtain the required information, patients had to fill out a Margolis pain diagram, and the acupuncturist questioned the patient and performed a tongue- and pulse diagnosis.
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one 30-minute treatment session using sterile 1-time-use needles (Euro-acupuncture needles) were used, but the therapist was allowed to chose the needle length and diameter
Other Names:
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ACTIVE_COMPARATOR: relaxation
For the relaxation treatment the method of guided imagery is applied.
Guided imagery is a system of visualization.
During guided imagery relaxation, the patient's state of consciousness is similar to one which occurs in meditative status.
Patients are instructed to listen to a CD with relaxation music (Arcade TV-CD Ad Vissesr's Brainsessions, track 3).
Patients will sit in an identical position like during the acupuncture treatment (i.e. on a relaxation chair) and listened to the audio CD by headphone.
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1 treatment session of 30 minutes
Other Names:
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What is the study measuring?
Primary Outcome Measures
Outcome Measure |
Measure Description |
Time Frame |
---|---|---|
the change in Conditioned pain modulation
Time Frame: measured prior to (week 1 and week 2) and immediately following (week1 and week 2) each treatment session
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For assessing CPM, the method examining the influence of the Diffuse Noxious Inhibitory Control system (or spatial summation) on temporal summation (TS) was applied.
The experimental pain assessments before and after each treatment were carried out by the same assessor.
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measured prior to (week 1 and week 2) and immediately following (week1 and week 2) each treatment session
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Secondary Outcome Measures
Outcome Measure |
Measure Description |
Time Frame |
---|---|---|
the change in Neck Disability Index (NDI)
Time Frame: measured prior to (week 1 and 2) and immediately following (week 1 and 2) each treatment session
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The Neck Disability Index (NDI) was developed in 1991 as a modification of the Oswestry Back Pain Index and was the first instrument designed to assess self-rated disability in patients with neck pain.
The NDI is scored from 0 (good function) to 50 (poor function) and when multiplied by two the percentage of disability can be obtained.
The NDI is a valid and reliable instrument, sensitive to measure changes within a population of patient with neck pain.
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measured prior to (week 1 and 2) and immediately following (week 1 and 2) each treatment session
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the change in autonomic activity
Time Frame: week 1 and 2 : measured continuously in real time during CPM and during both treatment sessions
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For measuring autonomic activity, the Nexus 10 device (Mind Media, the Netherlands) will be used.
Skin conductance, body temperature, heart rate, blood volume pressure and heart rate variability will be measured continuously in real time during CPM and during both treatment sessions.
Electrodes will be placed on the left hand in all patients.
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week 1 and 2 : measured continuously in real time during CPM and during both treatment sessions
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the change in scores obtained from the Whiplash Associated Disorders Symptom List
Time Frame: measured prior to (week 1 and 2) and immediately following (week 1 and 2) each treatment session
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The Whiplash Associated Disorders Symptom List is a self-reported measure for assessing symptom severity in WAD patients.
The questionnaire is composed of the most frequently reported WAD symptoms in the literature and some autonomic symptoms.
Every symptom is presented by a visual analogue scale (VAS) (100 mm), a method that is known for its validity and reliability.
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measured prior to (week 1 and 2) and immediately following (week 1 and 2) each treatment session
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Collaborators and Investigators
Sponsor
Publications and helpful links
General Publications
- Nijs J, Meeus M, Van Oosterwijck J, Roussel N, De Kooning M, Ickmans K, Matic M. Treatment of central sensitization in patients with 'unexplained' chronic pain: what options do we have? Expert Opin Pharmacother. 2011 May;12(7):1087-98. doi: 10.1517/14656566.2011.547475. Epub 2011 Jan 22.
- Nijs J, Van Oosterwijck J, De Hertogh W. Rehabilitation of chronic whiplash: treatment of cervical dysfunctions or chronic pain syndrome? Clin Rheumatol. 2009 Mar;28(3):243-51. doi: 10.1007/s10067-008-1083-x. Epub 2009 Jan 22.
- Nijs J, Inghelbrecht E, Daenen L, Hachimi-Idrissi S, Hens L, Willems B, Roussel N, Cras P, Wouters K, Bernheim J. Recruitment bias in chronic pain research: whiplash as a model. Clin Rheumatol. 2011 Nov;30(11):1481-9. doi: 10.1007/s10067-011-1829-8. Epub 2011 Aug 19.
Study record dates
Study Major Dates
Study Start
Primary Completion (ACTUAL)
Study Completion (ACTUAL)
Study Registration Dates
First Submitted
First Submitted That Met QC Criteria
First Posted (ESTIMATE)
Study Record Updates
Last Update Posted (ESTIMATE)
Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria
Last Verified
More Information
Terms related to this study
Additional Relevant MeSH Terms
Other Study ID Numbers
- AcuWAD
This information was retrieved directly from the website clinicaltrials.gov without any changes. If you have any requests to change, remove or update your study details, please contact register@clinicaltrials.gov. As soon as a change is implemented on clinicaltrials.gov, this will be updated automatically on our website as well.
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