Assessing Pain Intensity Using Photoplethysmography Signals in Chronic Myofascial Pain Syndrome.

Background: Efficacy of pain assessment is the basis for effective therapy. Clinically, assessing pain is by subjective scale, but these methods have some shortcomings. Therefore, studies have been conducted on assessment of pain using physiological signals.

Observing continuous change in heart rate variability and photoplethysmography-derived parameters during the process of pain production/relief with thermal stimuli.

Continuously monitoring and efficiently managing pain has become an important issue. However, no study has investigated a change in physiological parameters during the process of pain production/relief. This study modeled the process of pain production/relief using ramped thermal stimulation (no pain: 37°C water, process of pain production: a heating rate of 1°C/min, and subject feels pain: water kept at the painful temperature for each subject, with each segment lasting 10 min).

Use of Heart Rate Variability and Photoplethysmograph-Derived Parameters as Assessment Signals of Radiofrequency Therapy Efficacy for Chronic Pain.

Background: Radiofrequency therapy (RFT) generates molecular motion and produces heat and electromagnetic effects on tissues, which attenuate pain sensation and thereby relieve pain. This study was to observe the altering trend of physiological parameters after RFT for chronic cervical or lumbar pain.

Methods: This study recruited 66 patients with chronic cervical or lumbar pain and recorded their physiological parameters before and after RFT using heart rate variability (HRV) and photoplethysmography (PPG) to explore the feasibility of RFT efficacy assessment.

Photoplethysmography variability as an alternative approach to obtain heart rate variability information in chronic pain patient.

Heart rate variability (HRV) is a well-known method for the assessment of autonomic nervous function of the heart. Previous study suggested that pulse rate variability (PRV) determined by photoplethysmography could be used instead of HRV to more simply assess autonomic nervous function. However, most research studies included healthy subjects.

Study of the trapezius muscle region pressure pain threshold and latency time in young people with and without depressed scapula.

The scapula is stabilized in or moved to a certain position to coordinate shoulder function and achieve shoulder and arm movement during the athletic and daily activities. An alteration in the scapular position both at rest and during arm movements is commonly associated with shoulder injury or dysfunction. The purpose of this study was to assess the influence of the depressed scapular position using pressure pain threshold (PPT) and delayed muscle activation of the upper and middle trapezius muscles.