Actively Recruiting
Investigating the Role of Central Pain Hypersensitivity in Skeletal Muscle Neural Drive
Led by University of Nottingham · Updated on 2025-12-15
135
Participants Needed
1
Research Sites
40 weeks
Total Duration
On this page
AI-Summary
What this Trial Is About
Background: pain lasting for 12 weeks or beyond, which is often referred to as chronic pain, is common for people living with musculoskeletal conditions (e.g. arthritis, low back pain and fibromyalgia). Pain is often not directly related to the degree of muscle or joint damage. Adaptations of the central nervous system (brain, spinal cord and nerves) often occur in chronic musculoskeletal conditions and can influence how we feel pain (central pain hypersensitivity). Pain can impact on muscle activity and movement. Muscle activity is also governed by nerve signals from the central nervous system (neural drive). The goal of this cross-sectional observational study is to investigate whether chronic musculoskeletal pain is associated with altered nerve signalling (neural drive) to skeletal muscles in adults 40 years or over with chronic knee pain, fibromyalgia and healthy pain free volunteers. The main questions it aims to answer are:- * Is central pain hypersensitivity associated with altered nerve signalling to skeletal muscles in adults 40 years or over with chronic pain (knee pain and for fibromyalgia) as well as healthy volunteers? * Is altered nerve signalling to skeletal muscles associated with physical function and disability? Participants will be asked to:- * Have sensory testing to determine how they feel pain * Complete static leg and arm muscle contractions with electrodes on the skin to measure muscle electrical activity * Complete questionnaires * Perform a short set of mobility tasks including walking, rising from a chair and balancing.
CONDITIONS
Official Title
Investigating the Role of Central Pain Hypersensitivity in Skeletal Muscle Neural Drive
Who Can Participate
Eligibility Criteria
You may qualify if you...
- Adults aged 40 years or older
- For knee pain group: history of knee pain with intensity of 4 or higher out of 10 for most days in the past 3 months
- For fibromyalgia group: self-reported diagnosis of fibromyalgia
- For fibromyalgia group: pain intensity of 4 or higher out of 10 for most days in the past 3 months
- Control group: pain-free individuals without known osteoarthritis
You will not qualify if you...
- Body mass index (BMI) greater than 35
- Body weight of 250 kilograms or higher
- Pregnancy
- Inability to give consent
- Inability to complete clinical assessments
- Performed strenuous physical exercise within 24 hours before testing
- Consumed alcohol on the day of testing
- Consumed caffeine on the day of testing
AI-Screening
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Trial Site Locations
Total: 1 location
1
University of Nottingham Graduate Entry Medicine and Health, Royal Derby Hospital, Uttoxeter Road, Derby
Derby, Derbyshire, United Kingdom, DE22 3DT
Actively Recruiting
Research Team
B
Ben Lightowler, MSc
CONTACT
S
Stephanie Smith, PhD
CONTACT
How is the study designed?
Study Type
OBSERVATIONAL
Masking
N/A
Allocation
N/A
Model
N/A
Primary Purpose
N/A
Number of Arms
3
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