Open Access<p>Targeting the Autonomic Nervous System Balance in Patients with Chronic Low Back Pain Using Transcranial Alternating Current Stimulation: A Randomized, Crossover, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Pilot Study</p>
Author(s) -
Julianna Prim,
Sangtae Ahn,
Maria I. Davila,
Morgan L Alexander,
Karen McCulloch,
Flavio Fröhlich
Publication year - 2019
Publication title -
journal of pain research
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.888
H-Index - 49
ISSN - 1178-7090
DOI - 10.2147/jpr.s208030
Subject(s) - transcranial alternating current stimulation , heart rate variability , medicine , crossover study , autonomic nervous system , balance (ability) , stimulation , placebo , vagal tone , chronic pain , neuroscience , anesthesia , heart rate , physical medicine and rehabilitation , transcranial magnetic stimulation , physical therapy , psychology , blood pressure , alternative medicine , pathology
Chronic low back pain (CLBP) is characterized by an alteration in pain processing by the central nervous system that may affect autonomic nervous system (ANS) balance. Heart rate variability (HRV) reflects the balance of parasympathetic and sympathetic ANS activation. In particular, respiratory sinus arrhythmia (RSA) solely reflects parasympathetic input and is reduced in CLBP patients. Yet, it remains unknown if non-invasive brain stimulation can alter ANS balance in CLBP patients.