Effectiveness of Electric Stimulation Therapy in Raynaud’s Phenomenon

Overview

The purpose of this study is to analyze the effects of an intervention with galvanic electrical current on the number of attacks , temperature, pain, peripheral blow flow and upper limb functionality in patients with Raynaud's Phenomenon in comparison to a control group that will maintain their habitual treatment.

Full Title of Study: “Effectiveness of an Intervention Program With Electric Stimulation Therapy in Patients With Raynaud’s Phenomenon: a Randomized Clinical Trial”

Study Type

  • Study Type: Interventional
  • Study Design
    • Allocation: Randomized
    • Intervention Model: Parallel Assignment
    • Primary Purpose: Treatment
    • Masking: Double (Investigator, Outcomes Assessor)
  • Study Primary Completion Date: December 1, 2018

Detailed Description

Raynaud's Phenomenon is a disorder that causes pain and functional limitation in people who suffer it. Investigators considerer that the application of an electrotherapy intervention with galvanic current, thanks to its vasodilator action, will produce clinically significant improvements in the number of attacks, temperature and blood flow of patients with Raynaud's Phenomenon, which can lead to a decrease in pain associated, frequency and severity of ischemic attacks and therefore an improvement in the functionality of the upper limbs. The experimental group will receive an electrotherapy treatment using galvanic current. To apply the treatment, we will place the patient seated, with their hands inside two containers filled with water up to the limit of their nails without touching them. Next we will connect the electrodes and apply a galvanic current for 10 minutes, there will be a minute of rest for the patient while we change the polarity of this current and we will apply it another 10 minutes. The intensity of the current depends on the threshold of the patient. The control group will maintain their usual conservative and pharmacological treatment without receiving electrotherapy

Interventions

  • Other: Electrotherapy with Galvanic Current
    • The experimental group will receive an electrotherapy treatment with galvanic current in their hands.This protocol will be administered at weekly sessions of 30 minutes with a period of 3 times / week with a total of 20 sessions, distributed over a 7-week period. They will be evaluated at baseline, after the end of the last treatment session and after two months of follow-up.
  • Other: Control without Electric Stimulation Therapy
    • The control group continue with their usual conservative and pharmacological treatment and will not receive electrotherapy treatment. They will be evaluated too at baseline, after the end of the last treatment session and after two months of follow-up.

Arms, Groups and Cohorts

  • Experimental: Electric Stimulation Therapy Group
    • The experimental group will receive an electrotherapy treatment with galvanic current in their hands. Electrotherapy with galvanic current has vasodilator action.
  • Active Comparator: Control Group
    • The control group will be subjected to a conservative treatment. These patients will continue to take their usual medication and will not receive electrotherapy treatment

Clinical Trial Outcome Measures

Primary Measures

  • Number of Raynaud´s Phenomenon attacks
    • Time Frame: Seven Weeks
    • Change from baseline at the Number of Raynaud´s Phenomenon attacks

Secondary Measures

  • Temperature in the affected areas in patients with Raynaud´s Disease
    • Time Frame: Seven weeks
    • Change from baseline temperature in the infrared thermography in patients with Raynaud´s Disease
  • Temperature in the affected areas in patients with Raynaud´s Disease
    • Time Frame: Fifteen weeks
    • Change from baseline temperature in the infrared thermography in patients with Raynaud´s Disease
  • Temperature in the Cold Stress Test
    • Time Frame: Seven weeks
    • Change from temperature in the Cold Stress Test
  • Temperature in the Cold Stress Test
    • Time Frame: Fifteen weeks
    • Change from temperature in the Cold Stress Test
  • Pain Intensity: Visual Analog Scale
    • Time Frame: Seven weeks
    • Change from baseline in pain in the Visual Analog Scale. Score range between 0-10 cm where 0 is in considerer no pain and 10 is the worst pain imaginable.
  • Pain Intensity: Visual Analog Scale
    • Time Frame: Fifteen weeks
    • Change from baseline in pain in the Visual Analog Scale. Score range between 0-10 cm where 0 is in considerer no pain and 10 is the worst pain imaginable.
  • Central Sensitization
    • Time Frame: Seven weeks
    • Change from baseline in the Central Sensitization Inventory. The cumulative score ranges from 0 to 100.Higher scores indicate increased frequency and severity of the symptoms.
  • Central Sensitization
    • Time Frame: Fifteen weeks
    • Change from baseline in the Central Sensitization Inventory. The cumulative score ranges from 0 to 100.Higher scores indicate increased frequency and severity of the symptoms.
  • Pain Catastrophizing
    • Time Frame: Seven weeks
    • Change from baseline in the Pain Catastrophizing Scale. Score range is from 0 to 52; higher scores indicate a greater frequency of catastrophic thoughts.
  • Pain Catastrophizing
    • Time Frame: Fifteen weeks
    • Change from baseline in the Pain Catastrophizing Scale. Score range is from 0 to 52; higher scores indicate a greater frequency of catastrophic thoughts.
  • Oxygen Saturation
    • Time Frame: Seven weeks
    • Change from baseline in Oxygen Saturation
  • Oxygen Saturation
    • Time Frame: Fifteen weeks
    • Change from baseline in Oxygen Saturation
  • Arterial blood flow
    • Time Frame: Seven weeks
    • Change from baseline in Arterial blood flow in the radial and ulnar artery
  • Arterial blood flow
    • Time Frame: Fifteen weeks
    • Change from baseline in Arterial blood flow in the radial and ulnar artery
  • Upper limb disability
    • Time Frame: Seven Weeks
    • Change from baseline in the Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder and Hand Questionnaire. The score ranges from 0 (no disability) to 100 (most severe disability). Higher scores indicate a greater level of disability and severity.
  • Upper limb disability
    • Time Frame: Fifteen Weeks
    • Change from baseline in the Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder and Hand Questionnaire. The score ranges from 0 (no disability) to 100 (most severe disability). Higher scores indicate a greater level of disability and severity.

Participating in This Clinical Trial

Inclusion Criteria

  • Being over 18 years of age. – Being diagnosed with Primary or Secondary Raynaud Phenomenon according to the criteria established by LeRoy-Medsger. – A history of at least one year of regular attacks of pallor or acral cyanosis caused by exposure to cold and/or stress. – Having signed the informed consent document and willingness to participate in the study Exclusion Criteria:

  • Presence of skin alterations such as stings, scars, ulcers or gangrene in the examined area. – Suffering upper limb entrapment syndrome, central nervous system polyneuropathy, Hypothyroidism, renal failure, cerebral or cardiac ischemic disease. – History of drug or alcohol abuse. – Pregnant or breastfeeding women. – Use of vibratory tools. – Participants with tumour process.

Gender Eligibility: All

Minimum Age: 18 Years

Maximum Age: N/A

Are Healthy Volunteers Accepted: No

Investigator Details

  • Lead Sponsor
    • Universidad de Granada
  • Provider of Information About this Clinical Study
    • Principal Investigator: Encarnación Aguilar Ferrandiz, Research and teaching staff of the University of Granada – Universidad de Granada
  • Overall Official(s)
    • Mª Encarnacion ME Aguilar Ferrandiz, PhD, Principal Investigator, Universidad de Granada

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