Self-administered transcranial direct current stimulation treatment of knee osteoarthritis alters pain-related fNIRS connectivity networks.

ABSTRACT:

Significance

Knee osteoarthritis (OA) is a disease that causes chronic pain in the elderly population. Currently, OA is mainly treated pharmacologically with analgesics, although research has shown that neuromodulation via transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) may be beneficial in reducing pain in clinical settings. However, no studies have reported the effects of home-based self-administered tDCS on functional brain networks in older adults with knee OA.

Aim

We used functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS) to investigate the functional connectivity effects of tDCS on underlying pain processing mechanisms at the central nervous level in older adults with knee OA.

Approach

Pain-related brain connectivity networks were extracted using fNIRS at baseline and

SUBMITTER: Montero-Hernandez S 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC10063907 | biostudies-literature | 2023 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature