Abstract
Abstract
Background
Pain is a major symptom in adolescents with hypermobility spectrum disorder or hypermobile Ehlers-Danlos syndrome. Although the underlying mechanism causing generalized pain in children with hypermobility spectrum disorder or hypermobile Ehlers-Danlos syndrome is unclear, central sensitization has been suggested as a possible explanation. The aim of this study was to explore the feasibility of a study protocol for a future case–control study, investigating features of central sensitization in adolescents with hypermobility spectrum disorder or hypermobile Ehlers-Danlos syndrome.
Methods
Central sensitization features were measured in ten patients and nine healthy controls aged 13–17 years via experimental pain measurement quantifying primary and secondary hyperalgesia, endogenous pain modulation, and exercise-induced hyperalgesia. Descriptive statistics were used. Frequency, median, and range values were calculated.
Results
Eleven out of 57 patients chose to participate. No control could be recruited through public schools. Therefore, a convenience sampling strategy was used for the recruitment of the control group. The process of assessing primary and secondary hyperalgesia, endogenous pain modulation, and exercise-induced hyperalgesia was well tolerated by all participants (patients and controls). When assessing endogenous pain modulation via conditioned pain modulation, two participants in the patient group and three in the control group did not achieve a pain experience ≥ 3 on the numerical rating scale when immersing their hands in cold water.
Conclusion
This study investigated the feasibility, safety, and toleration of experimental pain measurements in adolescents with hypermobility spectrum disorder or hypermobile Ehlers-Danlos syndrome. Although the test protocol proved to be sufficiently feasible for use with the participant group, it will need to be adapted in the main study in order to obtain more reliable data. Recruitment, especially of participants for the control group, can be a major obstacle for future studies and requires careful planning.
Trial registration
Researchweb.org, 270,501. Registered on 9 May 2019.
Funder
Health and Medical Care Committee of the Regional Executive Board, Region Västra Götaland
University of Gothenburg
Publisher
Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Cited by
1 articles.
订阅此论文施引文献
订阅此论文施引文献,注册后可以免费订阅5篇论文的施引文献,订阅后可以查看论文全部施引文献