Functional Changes in Cortical Activity of Patients Submitted to Knee Osteoarthritis Treatment: An Exploratory Pilot Study.

Abstract

There is evidence that brain plasticity is the central mechanism involved in the functional recovery process of patients with knee osteoarthritis. Studies involving the analysis of central nervous system mechanisms of pain control and recovery could provide more data on future therapeutic approaches. The aim of the study was to explore possible functional changes in cortical activity of patients submitted to knee osteoarthritis standardized pain treatment using electroencephalography. Ten patients with clinical and radiological diagnosis of painful knee unilateral or bilateral osteoarthritis were recruited to participate in clinical (Pain's Visual Analog Scale), radiological (Kellgren-Lawrence Scale), and neurophysiological (electroencephalography) assessments to evaluate cortical activity during cortical pain modulation activity. The clinical and neurophysiological analyses were performed before and after standardized pain treatment. Eight patients participated in this study. A significant improvement in pain perception and relative increase in interhemispheric connectivity after therapies was observed. In electroencephalography analysis, tests with real movement showed a relative increase in density directed at Graph's analysis. Relative increase density directed measures at connectivity analysis in electroencephalography after pain treatment can be possible parameters to be explored in future research with a larger number of patients.