Ist Kinesiophobie während eines anhaltenden Schmerzzustands mit Lateralitäts- und Emotionserkennungsveränderungen assoziiert?

Background

The aim of this study is to investigate the effects of kinesiophobia on emotion recognition and left/right judgement.

Materials and methods

A total of 67 patients with chronic musculoskeletal pain were tested. In all, 24 patients achieved a score >37 on the Tampa Scale of Kinesiophobia and were included in the study. The ability to recognize basic emotions coded through facial expression was assessed using the Facially Expressed Emotion Labeling (FEEL) test. Left/right judgement was evaluated using a special Face-mirroring Assessment and Treatment program. The Toronto Alexithymia Scale-26 (TAS-26) was used to assess if the patients showed signs of alexithymia.

Results

The FEEL score of patients with kinesiophobia was significantly lower (p = 0.019). The recognition of the basic emotions fear (p = 0.026), anger (p = 0.027), and surprise (p = 0.014) showed significant differences in comparison to unaffected subjects. The basic emotion surprise was recognized more often by patients with kinesiophobia (p = 0.014). Only Scale 1 of the TAS-26 (identification problems of emotions) showed a significant difference between patients with kinesiophobia (p = 0.008) and healthy subjects.

Conclusion

The results show that kinesiophobic patients have altered recognition of emotions, problems in left/right judgement, and show signs of alexithymia.

     

Veränderte Schmerzschwellen während und nach Opioidentzug bei Patienten mit chronischen Rückenschmerzen

Background

Opioids as the strongest pain drugs are often used for chronic pain although their long-term efficacy has not yet been clarified. In this longitudinal study, we compared the pain sensitivity of patients with chronic low back pain (cLBP) under long-term opioid use and treated with multidisciplinary pain therapy.

Methods

The pain sensitivity was measured by the quantitative sensory testing (QST) technique at admission, discharge and 6 months after the beginning of the study in 34 patients with both cLBP and opioid medication, 33 opioid-naive cLBP patients and those neither with pain nor opioid use (HC). Both patient groups underwent a 3-week multidisciplinary pain therapy (MDPT).

Results

Under opioid use, the patients showed significantly lower cold and heat pain thresholds compared to HC and delayed reaction to warm stimuli. After 3 weeks of MDPT, opioid-positive patients still had a lower pain threshold to cold and heat stimuli, while opioid-naive patients normalised their pain perception.

Conclusion

Our findings suggest that long-term use of opioids intensifies the peripheral sensitisation of cLBP. The MDPT can counteract this process.     

Kreislauf und Gaswechsel während der Arbeit

Research in Experimental Medicine - 1. Im Anschluß an eine vorausgehende Versuchsreihe, in der die vegetative Struktur des Individuums durch die Ruhewerte des Kreislaufs und Gasstoffwechsels...     

Änderungen im EEG nach manueller/osteopathischer Therapie und Atlas-Impulstherapie nach Arlen während der Therapie mit Aufbissbehelfen

In addition to causing local functional changes to the atlanto-occipital joints, Arlen’s Atlas Impulse Therapy also produces numerous immediate functional changes to musculoskeletal areas at often anatomically distant sites. For example, the three-dimensional position of the mandible in relation to the maxilla changes, thereby automatically changing dental occlusion. These observations prompt the assumption that manual interventions cause changes to the autonomic and central nervous system. By measuring and analyzing heart rate variability, it was possible to show that Arlen’s Atlas Impulse Therapy has a direct effect on the autonomic nervous system. This article examines the extent to which an effect can be seen on the CNS using quantitative electrocephalogram (qEEG) during occlusal splint therapy.     

Schmerzempfinden und -verhalten während der orthopädischen Rehabilitation

Background

Problems concerning the sustainability of medical rehabilitation are well known. Persistent avoidance behavior might be a potential cause. The present study is designed to determine the relationship between pain and pain-related behavior (resignation, distraction, avoidance) during the rehabilitation process. In addition, the impact of gender, age, level of chronicity, and location of ailments are investigated.

Methods

Pain (German pain perception scale, SES) and pain-related behavior (German pain control questionnaire, FSR) were measured in 309 orthopedic rehabilitation patients.

Results

Affective pain, resignation and distraction are more pronounced in women than in men. Participants with highly increased levels of chronicity have more affective and sensory pain and higher values of avoidance and resignation. During the rehabilitation process, there was a decrease in affective pain, sensory pain and resignation. The difference values correlate significantly.

Conclusion

Rehabilitation is effective for pain reduction. However, only limited changes in pain-related behavior were detected.     

Beitrag zur Frage der Magensekretion während der Schwangerschaft

Research in Experimental Medicine - Bei einer trächtigen Hündin mit einemPawlowschen kleinen Magen wurde während und nach der Schwangerschaft die Magensekretion auf eine...