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.
Study summary
This study investigates how the anticipation of pain affects muscle synergies. One group will be recruited who will first experience actual pain from capsaicin cream and are then presented with a harmless cream deceptively labeled as capsaicin. The changes in muscle synergies will be measured during walking tasks.
Eligibility
Sex
ALL
Min age
18 Years
Max age
35 Years
Healthy volunteers
Accepted
Inclusion Criteria:
* Aged 18-35 years old
* Healthy participant with no self-reported diagnosed neurological, musculoskeletal, or cardiovascular disorders
* Body Mass Index (BMI) \< 30
* Ability to walk unaided for at least 10 minutes without major physical limitations
Exclusion Criteria:
* Presence of pain at the time of testing
* Self-reported diagnosed condition affecting mobility
* Known allergy to any component of the study cream
* Allergy to EMG electrode adhesives
* Inability to stand unassisted for more than 1 minute
* Inability to walk/run at the required speed and distance
* Weight exceeding 150 kg (due to treadmill limitations)
* Recent intake (prior intervention) of:
* Analgesics (within 6 hours)
* Cigarettes (within 6 hours)
* Caffeine (within 2 hours)
* Skin lesions at the cream application site
* Pregnancy
* Failure to understand instructions
* Daytime pain reported by participant on day of experimentation
Primary outcome measure(s)
Distribution of muscle synergies derived by non-negative matrix factorization — Before intervention, after intervention (10 minutes after cream application) Changes in the activation of the muscle synergies during the gait cycle.
Changes in Muscle Synergy Composition derived by non-negative matrix factorization. — Before intervention, after intervention (10 minutes after cream application) Changes in the composition of muscle synergies (i.e., the individuals muscles that comform one muscle synergy)
This page summarises publicly available registry data for informational purposes — not medical advice. Eligibility is determined by each study team; patients should discuss participation with their clinician.
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