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Muscle Synergies in Pain and Pain Anticipation
Sponsor: Universite de Picardie Jules Verne
Summary
This study investigates how the anticipation of pain affects muscle synergies. Two groups will be compared: an experimental group, who first experience actual pain from capsaicin cream and are then presented with a harmless cream deceptively labeled as capsaicin, against a control group, who are presented with a harmless cream labeled as potentially painful, without any prior painful experience. The changes in muscle synergies will be measured during walking tasks.
Official title: Test-retest Fidelity of a Tool for Calculation of Muscle Synergies
Key Details
Gender
All
Age Range
18 Years - 35 Years
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Enrollment
34
Start Date
2026-01-01
Completion Date
2026-04-01
Last Updated
2025-11-26
Healthy Volunteers
Yes
Conditions
Interventions
Pain expectation conditioning
Participants receive a neutral cream with no real harmful effects with verbal and behavioral suggestions that it may cause localized pain. Researchers wear gloves during application and emphasize the potential discomfort, stating effects may intensify with movement.
Gait assesment
Gait will be assessed both before and after cream application. Each assessment will consist of walking on a treadmill at varying speeds while physiological data (EMG) is recorded. Identical questionnaires (VAS, TAMPA, and PCS) will be administered immediately following the first gait assessment.
Locations (2)
Centre de Recherche sur le Vieillissement
Sherbrooke, Canada
Université de Picardie Jules Verne
Amiens, France