Feasibility of Using Cranial Electrotherapy Stimulation for Pain in Persons with Parkinson’s Disease

Rintala, Diana H., Tan, Gabriel, Willson, Pamela , Bryant, Mon S., and Lai, Eugene C. H. Feasibility of using cranial electrotherapy stimulation for pain in persons with parkinson’s disease. Parkinson’s Disease. 2010. 8 pages.

Objectives
To assess the feasibility of treating musculoskeletal pain in the lower back and/or lower extremities in persons with Parkinson’s disease (PD) with cranial electrotherapy stimulation (CES).

Design
Randomized, controlled, double-blind trial. Setting. Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Community.

Participants
Nineteen persons with PD and pain in the lower back and/or lower extremities. Thirteen provided daily pain rating data.

Intervention
Of the thirteen participants who provided daily pain data, 6 were randomly provided with active CES devices and 7 with sham devices to use at home 40 minutes per day for six weeks. They recorded their pain ratings on a 0-to-10 scale immediately before and after each session.

Main Outcome Measure
Average daily change in pain intensity.

Results
Persons receiving active CES had, on average, a 1.14-point decrease in pain compared with a 0.23-point decrease for those receiving sham CES (Wilcoxon Z=-2.20, P=.028).

Conclusion
Use of CES at home by persons with PD is feasible and may be somewhat helpful in decreasing pain. A larger study is needed to determine the characteristics of persons who may experience meaningful pain reduction with CES. Guidelines for future studies are provided.

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