People with amputation and musculoskeletal pain show reduced electrical activity of Alpha brain waves: cross-sectional study

Abstract

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Amputation causes associated clinical conditions, such as musculoskeletal pain (MSP), which causes suffering and interferes in the patient's life. Therefore, the development of diagnostic methods to measure these changes are encouraged, such as quantitative electroencephalography (qEEG). The aim of the study was to compare the electroencephalographic pattern of Alpha brain waves (8-12 Hz) in individuals with amputation with MSP unrelated to phantom limb pain and without MSP. METHODS: Study conducted between January and February 2022, with 20 people with amputations divided equally into two groups (Control Group and with MSP report not related to the amputated segment). Pain intensity and interference were evaluated (Brief Pain Inventory), as well as the presence of central sensitization (CS) signs and symptoms (CS inventory) and qEEG (assessed with eyes open) with spectral analysis to measure the amplitude of the Alpha wave, standardized Low Resolution brain electromagnetic Tomography (sLORETA) to identify the People with amputation and musculoskeletal pain show reduced electrical activity of Alpha brain waves: cross-sectional studyPessoas com amputação e relato de dor musculoesquelética apresentam redução da atividade elétrica das ondas cerebrais Alpha: estudo transversal