Evidence map›Paper›PMID 39942436›Full record

ArticleHealthcare (Basel, Switzerland)2025

The Role of Maladaptive Plasticity in Modulating Pain Pressure Threshold Post-Spinal Cord Injury.

Marta Imamura, Rafaela Machado Filardi, Guilherme J M Lacerda, Kevin Pacheco-Barrios, Gilson Shinzato, Linamara Rizzo Battistella, Felipe Fregni

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Healthcare (Basel, Switzerland), 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 2 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
2citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

2 citing papers in PubMed.

  1. Observational
  2. Review
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

7 authors.

Marta ImamuraInstituto de Medicina Física e Reabilitação, Hospital das Clínicas HCFMUSP, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo 04116-040, Brazil.ORCID 0000-0003-0355-9697
Rafaela Machado FilardiNeuromodulation Center and Center for Clinical Research Learning, Spaulding Rehabilitation Hospital and Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02138, USA.
Guilherme J M LacerdaInstituto de Medicina Física e Reabilitação, Hospital das Clínicas HCFMUSP, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo 04116-040, Brazil.ORCID 0009-0006-1449-6539
Kevin Pacheco-BarriosNeuromodulation Center and Center for Clinical Research Learning, Spaulding Rehabilitation Hospital and Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02138, USA.
Gilson ShinzatoInstituto de Medicina Física e Reabilitação, Hospital das Clínicas HCFMUSP, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo 04116-040, Brazil.
Linamara Rizzo BattistellaInstituto de Medicina Física e Reabilitação, Hospital das Clínicas HCFMUSP, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo 04116-040, Brazil.ORCID 0000-0001-5275-0733
Felipe FregniNeuromodulation Center and Center for Clinical Research Learning, Spaulding Rehabilitation Hospital and Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02138, USA.ORCID 0000-0002-1703-7526

Funding

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo SPEC Project, Fund Number 2017/12943-8
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundSpinal cord injury (SCI) frequently leads to pain, leading to significant disability. Pain sensitization, a key feature of SCI, is commonly assessed via quantitative sensory testing like the Pressure Pain Threshold (PPT), though the factors influencing PPT changes remain unclear. This study hypothesizes that specific clinical and neurophysiological factors modulate PPT in SCI patients. The primary objective is to identify predictors of PPT in SCI patients.

methodsWe conducted a cross-sectional analysis of neurophysiological, clinical, and demographic data from 102 SCI patients in an ongoing prospective cohort study called "Deficit of Inhibition as a Marker of Neuroplasticity" (DEFINE study). Multivariable regression analyses were used to evaluate demographic, clinical, and functional variables associated with PPT, the primary outcome measure.

resultsThe sample comprised 87.9% males with an average age of 41. Trauma was the leading cause of SCI (77.45%), predominantly affecting the cervical and thoracic levels. Pain was reported by 44% of participants, and the mean PPT was 8.3 kPa, measured bilaterally. Multivariate analysis of PPT in the left, right, and bilateral thenar regions revealed consistent trends. Significant negative associations were found between bilateral PPT and low beta EEG frequency in the central area (β = -14.94,

conclusionsOur findings show that increased beta oscillations and traumatic brain injury having a lower PPT indicate that factors associated with maladaptive plasticity are associated with decreased and likely less functional PPT. On the other hand, increased motor function may help to regulate PPT in a more functional status.

Indexed as

central sensitizationpressure pain thresholdquantitative sensory testspinal cord injury

Identifiers

PMID39942436
PMCPMC11816816

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Registered trials

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.