Journal
AGING CLINICAL AND EXPERIMENTAL RESEARCH
Volume 28, Issue 2, Pages 231-237Publisher
SPRINGER
DOI: 10.1007/s40520-015-0409-1
Keywords
tDCS; Neuromodulation; Foot pain; Elderly; Anxiety; Pain medication
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Funding
- NYCPM Student Independent Research grant
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Transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) is a non-invasive neuromodulatory technique that can affect human pain perception. The present open-label, single-arm study investigated whether primary motor cortex anodal tDCS treatment reduces chronic foot pain intensity and improves depression and pain-related anxiety symptoms in patients with chronic plantar fasciitis. Ten patients with symptomatic treatment-resistant plantar fasciitis were enrolled in the study. The treatment consisted of anodal tDCS over the motor area of the leg contralateral to the symptomatic foot for 20 min, at 2 mA for 5 consecutive days. Pre-tDCS (T0), post-tDCS (T1), 1 week (T2), and 4 weeks (T3) post-treatment assessments were conducted consisting of the Visual Analog Scale for pain intensity, the Foot Function Index (FFI), the Pain Anxiety Symptom Scale (PASS-20), and the Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression (HDRS-17 items). Anodal tDCS treatment induced a significant improvement in pain intensity; FFI and PASS scores that were maintained up to 4 weeks post-treatment. In addition, patients reported taking fewer pain medication tablets following the treatments. Our results indicate that anodal tDCS may be a viable treatment to control pain and psychological comorbidity in elderly patients with treatment-resistant foot pain.
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