Targeting chronic recurrent low back pain from the top-down and the bottom-up: a combined transcranial direct current stimulation and peripheral electrical stimulation intervention.

Background: Mechanisms such as neural sensitization and maladaptive cortical organization provide novel targets for therapy in chronic recurrent low back pain (CLBP).

Objective: We investigated the effect of a transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) and peripheral electrical stimulation (PES) treatment on pain, cortical organization, sensitization and sensory function in CLBP.

Methods: Using a placebo-controlled crossover design, 16 individuals received four treatments in separate sessions: (i) anodal tDCS/PES; (ii) anodal tDCS/sham PES; (iii) sham tDCS/PES; or (iv) sham tDCS/sham PES. Pain was assessed at baseline, immediately following, and at 1 and 3 days after treatment. Motor cortical organization, sensitization and sensory function were measured before and immediately after treatment.

Results: Combined tDCS/PES reduced pain and sensitization, normalized motor cortical organization and improved sensory function. The reduction in pain was greater in individuals with more pronounced sensitization. Applied alone, tDCS or PES also reduced pain. However, with the exception of improved sensory function and reduced map volume following PES, clinical and neurophysiological outcomes were unaltered by tDCS or PES applied separately. No changes were observed following sham treatment.

Conclusion: Our data suggest a combined tDCS/PES intervention more effectively improves CLBP symptoms and mechanisms of cortical organization and sensitization, than either intervention applied alone or a sham control.