Efeitos da estimulação transcraniana por corrente contínua sobre a dor e funcionalidade em pacientes com Chikungunya. Um ensaio clínico randomizado, triplo cego

Abstract

Chikungunya virus (CHIK) is characteristic with chronic pain associated with functional deficit. Chronic pain in several other pathologies can be decreased with transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS). Objective: We aim evaluate the effects of tDCS on pain and functionality in patients with chronic CHIK. Method: Two groups of patients with CHIK: Sham-tDCS (n:14) and Active-tDCS over the primary motor cortex (anode) (n: 15), with 10 sessions and 2mA of intensity were applied for 20 min. Pain was evaluated through the Numerical Rating Scale (NRS) and the Brief Pain Inventory (IBD), Health Assessment Questionnaire (HAQ) to measure functionality and the manual grip force using dynamometer. There were 4 evaluations. Results: There was no interaction time-group for NRS (p = 0,508), but significance was found for time (p = 0,0001). In the first week, only the active group had a significant decrease (Active, p = 0,001; Sham, p = 0,273). IBD showed no significant time-group interaction p = 0.86, but there was a significant interaction for time (p = 0,0001), likewise for the HAQ (time vs group interaction p = 0,983, interaction time p = 0,0001), and for dynamometry interaction. No results were found about tDCS and the improvement of pain and functionality, due to the sample size, the difference between the groups was not evident.