Enhancing Inhibition With tDCS in Low Back Pain

Enhancing Inhibition With tDCS in Low Back Pain

This cross-over study intends to use consecutive days of active versus sham transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) to enhance descending inhibition and look at resulting clinical effects in people with low back pain.

Inclusion Criteria:

• Otherwise healthy men and women
• Aged 18-60 years
• Continuous pain (>3days pain/week) episode lasting at least 3 months, sufficient to limit daily activities
• Pain in the region posteriorly between the inferior border of the 12th rib and the lower gluteal fold (low back pain) at the time of recruitment
• Able to speak, read and understand English

Exclusion Criteria:

• Pregnancy
• Low back pain associated with menstruation
• Currently seeking active treatment for low back pain
• Red flags symptoms (i.e. fever, malaise, progressive neurologic deficit, significant trauma, prolonged corticosteroid use or osteoporosis, pain worst at night, urinary or faecal incontinence, or unintended weight loss)
• Drug addiction defined as the use of cannabis, opioids or other drugs
• Current or previous neurologic, musculoskeletal, mental, or other illnesses which may affect the trial
• Current or previous chronic or recurrent pain condition other than low back pain
• Current regular use of analgesic medication or other medication which may affect the trial
• Lack of ability to cooperate