Decreased low back pain intensity and differential gene expression following calmare: results from a double-blinded randomized sham-controlled study
Research in Nursing & Health, 01/13/2015 Clinical Article
Starkweather AR, et al. – In this double–blinded, randomized controlled trial the authors aimed to evaluate the effects of Calmare®, a non–invasive neurocutaneous electrical pain intervention, on lower back pain intensity as measured by the “worst” pain score and on pain interference using the Brief Pain Inventory–Short Form, on measures of pain sensitivity assessed by quantitative sensory testing, and on mRNA expression of pain sensitivity genes.
Methods
Thirty participants were randomized to receive up to 10 sessions of Calmare® treatment (n=15) or a sham treatment (n=15) using the same device at a non-therapeutic threshold.
Results
At 3 weeks after conclusion of treatment, compared with the sham group, the Calmare® group reported a significant decrease in the “worst” pain and interference scores.
There were also significant differences in pain sensitivity and differential mRNA expression of 17 pain genes, suggesting that Calmare® can be effective in reducing pain intensity and interference in individuals with persistent low back pain by altering the mechanisms of enhanced pain sensitivity.
