Musculoskeletal Nociceptive Pain in Participants With Neuromuscular Disorders

Nociceptive Pain in Neuromuscular Disorders - Low Interventional Pilot Study to Assess Musculoskeletal Pain in Neuromuscular Disorders (NMD)

The primary aim is to characterize the prevalence, severity and quality of musculoskeletal nociceptive pain in adult patients with neuromuscular disorders (NMD). The secondary objectives are to evaluate whether severity and distribution of muscle pain is associated with muscle function, and to assess whether muscle pain is associated with alterations of muscle elasticity and muscle stiffness. Results of patients with neuromuscular disorders will be compared to age- and gender-matched healthy volunteers. Approx. 70 patients with neuromuscular disorders and 20 healthy volunteers will be enrolled, including patients with the following neuromuscular disorders: histologically confirmed inclusion body myositis (IBM), genetically confirmed late-onset Pompe disease (LOPD), genetically confirmed spinal muscular atrophy type 3 (SMA3), genetically confirmed facio-scapulo-humeral muscle dystrophy (FSHD), genetically confirmed myotonic dystrophy type 1 or type 2 (DM1, DM2). The duration of patient recruitment will be around 12 months.

Study Overview

• Status: Completed
• Conditions: Healthy; Myotonic Dystrophy Type 2; Pompe Disease (Late-onset); Spinal Muscular Atrophy Type 3; Myotonic Dystrophy Type 1 (DM1); Facioscapulohumeral Muscular Dystrophy 1; Inclusion Body Myositis, Sporadic
• Intervention / Treatment: Diagnostic test: Quick Motor Function Test; Diagnostic test: Handheld Dynamometry (HHD); Diagnostic test: Pressure pain threshold; Diagnostic test: Vital signs; Diagnostic test: Beck depression inventory fast screen; Diagnostic test: German Pain Inventory; Diagnostic test: Brief Pain Inventory; Diagnostic test: Fatigue Severity and Disability Scale (FSS); Diagnostic test: Six-minute walk test (6MWT); Diagnostic test: Myotonometer Assessment; Diagnostic test: Borg Scale

Detailed Description

The explorative, cross-sectional low-interventional pilot study evaluates the prevalence, severity and quality of musculoskeletal nociceptive pain in participants with defined neuromuscular disorders (NMD). Adult participants with the following neuromuscular disorders will be included: histologically confirmed inclusion body myositis (IBM), genetically confirmed late-onset Pompe disease (LOPD), genetically confirmed spinal muscular atrophy type 3 (SMA3), genetically confirmed facio-scapulo-humeral muscle dystrophy (FSHD) and genetically confirmed myotonic dystrophy type 1 or type 2 (DM1, DM2). 20 healthy participants will be enrolled as a control group. The Beck depression inventory fast screen (BDI-FS) will be used as a screening. If there is a possibility of major depression (with a BDI ≥4), patients will be excluded from the study. So only patients with BDI-FS score ≤3 at screening will be enrolled. Patients will be asked to complete the following validated disease-related and quality-of-life questionnaires: German Pain Inventory (module A and abbreviated module S and L and V), Brief Pain Inventory (BPI) and Fatigue Severity and Disability Scale (FSS). Demographic and disease related data will be obtained. A neuromuscular examination will be conducted. A clinical evaluation of muscle strength using the MRC-Scale (Medical Research Council-Scale) will be performed on both sides deltoid muscles, biceps brachii muscles, triceps brachii muscles, hip flexors, hip extensors, quadriceps femoris muscles, foot extensor and foot flexor muscles as well as axial muscles and neck flexors and extensors. The Quick Motor Function Test (QMFT) with 16 items will be performed to assess muscle and movement functions of the participants. To ensure a high level of objective measurement, muscle strength will also be assessed by using handheld dynamometry. The following muscle groups will be tested: arm abduction, elbow flexion, elbow extension, hip flexion, hip extension, knee extension, knee flexion, foot extension, foot flexion. A six-minute-walk test (6MWT) will be performed once. Additionally, first signs of muscle pain or muscle cramps will be recorded (including the quality and intensity of pain). The Borg scale to rate dyspnea will be administered before starting the 6MWT and after completing the 6MWT. For diagnosis of myofascial pain, a Pressure Pain Threshold test by using a pressure algometer is included for the trapezius, deltoid and supraspinatus muscles, the rectus femoris muscles, and the tibialis anterior muscles until the patient feels any sensation of pain. Measurement of muscle stiffness, muscle tone, relaxation periods and viscoelasticity of selected muscles will be assessed by a myotonometer. Data collected in this study will be reported using summary tables, figures, and patient data listings. Differences between the patients and the healthy volunteers will be analyzed.

• Study Type: Observational
• Enrollment (Actual): 82

Contacts and Locations

Study Locations

• Germany
  • Bavaria
    • München, Bavaria, Germany, 80336
      • Friedrich-Baur-Institute

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: 18 years and older (ADULT, OLDER_ADULT)
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: Yes
• Genders Eligible for Study: All

• Sampling Method: Probability Sample

Study Population

Approximately 70 patients with defined NMD (see inclusion criteria) will be enrolled. For a control group, 20 healthy volunteers will be enrolled. All patients must be ≥ 18 years of age.

Description

Inclusion Criteria

• The participant is willing and able to provide signed informed consent.
• The participant is able and willing to perform study-related assessments.
• The participant is ≥18 years of age

• The participant has one of the following diagnoses:

  • histologically confirmed inclusion body myositis (IBM), or
  • genetically confirmed late-onset Pompe disease (LOPD), or
  • genetically confirmed spinal muscular atrophy type 3 (SMA3), or
  • genetically confirmed myotonic dystrophy type 1, or
  • genetically confirmed myotonic dystrophy type 2, or
  • genetically confirmed facio-scapulo-humeral muscle dystrophy (FSHD).

Exclusion Criteria

• The participant is participating in another clinical study or using an investigational treatment.
• The participant, in the opinion of the Investigator, is unable to adhere to the requirements of the study.
• The participant has currently a severe depression, assessed by the Beck depression inventory fast screen (BDI-FS) with a score ≥ 4

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

Number of groups / cohorts

2

Cohorts and Interventions

Group / Cohort	Intervention / Treatment
Neuromuscular disease (NMD) Patients; The patient has one of the following neuromuscular diagnoses: histologically (muscle biopsy) confirmed inclusion body myositis (IBM), or; genetically confirmed late-onset Pompe disease (LOPD), or; genetically confirmed spinal muscular atrophy type 3 (SMA3), or; genetically confirmed myotonic dystrophy type 1, or; genetically confirmed myotonic dystrophy type 2, or; genetically confirmed facio-scapulo-humeral muscle dystrophy (FSHD).	Diagnostic test: Quick Motor Function Test; An evaluator observes the performance of a patient and scores the items separately on a 5-point ordinal scale (ranging from 0 to 4). A total score is obtained by adding the scores of all items and ranges between 0 and 64 points.; Other Names: QMFT; Diagnostic test: Handheld Dynamometry (HHD); To ensure a high level of objective measurement, muscle strength will also be assessed by handheld dynamometry. The following muscle groups will be tested: Arm abduction, elbow flexion, elbow extension, hip flexion, hip extension, knee extension, knee flexion, foot extension, foot flexion.; Other Names: HHD; Diagnostic test: Pressure pain threshold; For diagnosis of myofascial pain, pressure algometers are designed and conventionally used to measure deep pressure pain thresholds or tenderness resistance (Park, Kim et al. 2011), and the reliability of pressure pain thresholds according to raters or measurement frequencies has been proven to be relatively high (Chung, Um et al. 1992). The threshold is then determined as the arithmetic mean of the 3 series (in kPa). The measurement will be stopped immediately as the patient feels sensations of "burning", "stinging", "drilling" or "aching. Pressure algometry measurements will be performed on the trapezius, deltoid and supraspinatus muscles, the rectus femoris muscles, and the tibialis anterior muscles.; Other Names: PPT; Diagnostic test: Vital signs; Vital signs (blood pressure, heart rate, respiratory rate) will be measured before and after the six-Minute-Walk-Test (6MWT).; Other Names: Vital parameters (VP); Diagnostic test: Beck depression inventory fast screen; Beck depression inventory fast screen questionnaire to detect severe depression for eligibility.; Other Names: BDI-FS; Diagnostic test: German Pain Inventory; German Pain Inventory questionnaire for evaluation of pain. Module A, abbreviated questions of module S (sociodemographic questions S1, S2, S3, S4, S5 and S8) and module L (quality of life) and V (therapies) will be used.; Other Names: Deutscher Schmerzfragebogen (DSF); Diagnostic test: Brief Pain Inventory; Validated questionnaire for pain.; Other Names: BPI; Diagnostic test: Fatigue Severity and Disability Scale (FSS); Validated questionnaire for perceived fatigue; Other Names: FSS; Diagnostic test: Six-minute walk test (6MWT); It is a sub-maximal exercise test used to assess aerobic capacity and endurance. The distance covered over a time of 6 minutes is used as the outcome by which to compare changes in performance capacity.; Other Names: 6MWT; Diagnostic test: Myotonometer Assessment; Muscle stiffness, muscle tone, relaxation periods and viscoelasticity will be assessed by a myotonometer of selected muscles (non-invasive measurement). The method of measurement consists of recording damped natural oscillation of soft biological tissue in the form of an acceleration signal and the subsequent simultaneous computation of the parameters of State of Tension, Biomechanical and Viscoelastic properties. Measurements will be performed on the trapezius, deltoid and supraspinatus muscles, the rectus femoris muscles, and the tibialis anterior muscles.; Diagnostic test: Borg Scale; the Borg scale will be assessed, which is a self-reported questionnaire designed to subjectively assess dyspnea and exertion during activity (Borg 1982). The Borg scale rates dyspnea on a scale of 0 to 10 incorporating nonlinear spacing of verbal descriptors of the level of intensity of dyspnea. A higher Borg score indicates more severe dyspnea. The Borg scale will be administered before starting the 6MWT (≤ 5 minutes) and after completing the 6MWT (≤ 5 minutes).
Healthy control; no known neuromuscular disorder	Diagnostic test: Quick Motor Function Test; An evaluator observes the performance of a patient and scores the items separately on a 5-point ordinal scale (ranging from 0 to 4). A total score is obtained by adding the scores of all items and ranges between 0 and 64 points.; Other Names: QMFT; Diagnostic test: Handheld Dynamometry (HHD); To ensure a high level of objective measurement, muscle strength will also be assessed by handheld dynamometry. The following muscle groups will be tested: Arm abduction, elbow flexion, elbow extension, hip flexion, hip extension, knee extension, knee flexion, foot extension, foot flexion.; Other Names: HHD; Diagnostic test: Pressure pain threshold; For diagnosis of myofascial pain, pressure algometers are designed and conventionally used to measure deep pressure pain thresholds or tenderness resistance (Park, Kim et al. 2011), and the reliability of pressure pain thresholds according to raters or measurement frequencies has been proven to be relatively high (Chung, Um et al. 1992). The threshold is then determined as the arithmetic mean of the 3 series (in kPa). The measurement will be stopped immediately as the patient feels sensations of "burning", "stinging", "drilling" or "aching. Pressure algometry measurements will be performed on the trapezius, deltoid and supraspinatus muscles, the rectus femoris muscles, and the tibialis anterior muscles.; Other Names: PPT; Diagnostic test: Vital signs; Vital signs (blood pressure, heart rate, respiratory rate) will be measured before and after the six-Minute-Walk-Test (6MWT).; Other Names: Vital parameters (VP); Diagnostic test: Beck depression inventory fast screen; Beck depression inventory fast screen questionnaire to detect severe depression for eligibility.; Other Names: BDI-FS; Diagnostic test: German Pain Inventory; German Pain Inventory questionnaire for evaluation of pain. Module A, abbreviated questions of module S (sociodemographic questions S1, S2, S3, S4, S5 and S8) and module L (quality of life) and V (therapies) will be used.; Other Names: Deutscher Schmerzfragebogen (DSF); Diagnostic test: Brief Pain Inventory; Validated questionnaire for pain.; Other Names: BPI; Diagnostic test: Fatigue Severity and Disability Scale (FSS); Validated questionnaire for perceived fatigue; Other Names: FSS; Diagnostic test: Six-minute walk test (6MWT); It is a sub-maximal exercise test used to assess aerobic capacity and endurance. The distance covered over a time of 6 minutes is used as the outcome by which to compare changes in performance capacity.; Other Names: 6MWT; Diagnostic test: Myotonometer Assessment; Muscle stiffness, muscle tone, relaxation periods and viscoelasticity will be assessed by a myotonometer of selected muscles (non-invasive measurement). The method of measurement consists of recording damped natural oscillation of soft biological tissue in the form of an acceleration signal and the subsequent simultaneous computation of the parameters of State of Tension, Biomechanical and Viscoelastic properties. Measurements will be performed on the trapezius, deltoid and supraspinatus muscles, the rectus femoris muscles, and the tibialis anterior muscles.; Diagnostic test: Borg Scale; the Borg scale will be assessed, which is a self-reported questionnaire designed to subjectively assess dyspnea and exertion during activity (Borg 1982). The Borg scale rates dyspnea on a scale of 0 to 10 incorporating nonlinear spacing of verbal descriptors of the level of intensity of dyspnea. A higher Borg score indicates more severe dyspnea. The Borg scale will be administered before starting the 6MWT (≤ 5 minutes) and after completing the 6MWT (≤ 5 minutes).

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Prevalence of musculoskeletal pain in defined neuromuscular diseases	The primary aim is to characterize the prevalence of musculoskeletal pain in adult patients with neuromuscular disorders (NMD).	Only at baseline visit

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Association between musculoskeletal pain and muscle function, assessed by Medical research council (MRC) grading (0-5)	Assessed by Medical research council (MRC) grading (0-5)	Only at baseline visit
Association between musculoskeletal pain and muscle function, assessed by quick motor function test (QMFT)	Assessed by quick motor function test (QMFT)	Only at baseline visit
Association between musculoskeletal pain and muscle function, assessed by Pressure Pain Threshold (PPT)	Assessed by Pressure Pain Threshold (PPT)	Only at baseline visit
Association between musculoskeletal pain and muscle function, assessed by a Myotonometer	Assessed by a Myotonometer (incl. relaxation time, stiffness, muscle tone, relaxation periods and viscoelasticity)	Only at baseline visit
Assessment of Questionnaire: Beck depression inventory fast screen	Association between Depression and musculoskeletal pain	Only at baseline visit
Assessment of Questionnaire: Brief Pain Inventory	Association between Depression and musculoskeletal pain	Only at baseline visit
Assessment of Questionnaire: Fatigue Severity Scale (FSS)	Association between Depression and musculoskeletal pain	Only at baseline visit
Characterization of musculoskeletal pain (quality and severity) assessed by the German Pain Questionnaire	Characterization of quality and severity of musculoskeletal pain	Only at baseline visit
Characterization of musculoskeletal pain (quality and severity) assessed by the Brief Pain Inventory (BPI)	Characterization (quality and severity) of musculoskeletal pain	Only at baseline visit

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: LMU Klinikum
• Investigators: Principal Investigator: Stephan Wenninger, PD Dr. med., Neurologist

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start (ACTUAL): April 15, 2021
• Primary Completion (ACTUAL): August 15, 2022
• Study Completion (ACTUAL): August 15, 2022

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: May 21, 2021
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: May 26, 2021
• First Posted (ACTUAL): May 28, 2021

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (ACTUAL): August 24, 2022
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: August 23, 2022
• Last Verified: August 1, 2022

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Keywords: musculoskeletal; nociceptive pain
• Additional Relevant MeSH Terms: Metabolic Diseases; Brain Diseases; Central Nervous System Diseases; Nervous System Diseases; Pain; Neurologic Manifestations; Genetic Diseases, Inborn; Musculoskeletal Diseases; Muscular Diseases; Neurodegenerative Diseases; Neuromuscular Manifestations; Pathological Conditions, Anatomical; Spinal Cord Diseases; Muscular Disorders, Atrophic; Carbohydrate Metabolism, Inborn Errors; Metabolism, Inborn Errors; Lysosomal Storage Diseases; Heredodegenerative Disorders, Nervous System; Atrophy; Brain Diseases, Metabolic; Brain Diseases, Metabolic, Inborn; Lysosomal Storage Diseases, Nervous System; Myotonic Disorders; Motor Neuron Disease; Glycogen Storage Disease; Muscular Dystrophies; Muscular Atrophy; Myositis; Myotonic Dystrophy; Muscular Atrophy, Spinal; Muscular Dystrophy, Facioscapulohumeral; Glycogen Storage Disease Type II; Neuromuscular Diseases; Nociceptive Pain; Myositis, Inclusion Body
• Other Study ID Numbers: PainNMD Version 1

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

• Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?: NO

Drug and device information, study documents

• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product: No
• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product: No