myoActivation® for Chronic Pain in a Marginalized Population

Purpose: This study will evaluate the inclusion of myoActivation in primary care for marginalized persons with concurrent opioid use disorder (OUD), chronic pain and trauma history. The research aims to investigate whether myoActivation improves pain intensity, quality of life, physical function, and reduces the need for prescribed analgesics (including opioids) and reported illicit drug use.

Hypothesis: The investigators hypothesize that patients with chronic pain who are treated with myoActivation will experience a reduction in pain and improvement in function and quality of life as shown by a 30% reduction on the PEG score (Pain intensity, interference with Enjoyment of life, interference with General activity) at 4, 12 and 24 weeks.

Justification: Chronic pain is typically treated by prescription of analgesic medications, including opioids. However, many patients who have overdoses are using opioids and other substances (including street drugs, alcohol, and marijuana) to manage chronic pain. There are an inadequate number of effective non-pharmacological options to manage chronic pain and wait lists for local Vancouver chronic pain clinics are as long as a year. Other treatment modalities offered by the Vancouver Community pain service include physiotherapy and counselling.

Objectives: The investigators aim to demonstrate an improvement in pain intensity, quality of life, and physical function as the primary outcomes. Secondary objectives include reduced need for analgesic medications (including opioids) and illicit drug use.

Research Design: This study is a prospective, mixed method design, including 1:1 semi-structured patient interviews. It is an observational study: patients will NOT be allocated to treatment on the basis of randomization or their enrollment in the study, i.e. participants will receive routine clinical care, based on the services offered by the clinical team at the pain clinic, and this will not change with their participation in the study.

The study will involve recruitment of 40 patients who attend the pain service on Tuesdays, when myoActivation and physiotherapy are offered, and who consent to being contacted for follow up data collection and interviews. At the time of recruitment, the subset of patients who have concurrent opioid use disorder, other addictions and / or trauma will not be known.

Data collection includes:

• a baseline score of the patients' pain experience using the validated questionnaires PEG, Pain Catastrophizing Scale (PCS) and Pain Self-Efficacy Questionnaire (PSEQ).
• information on baseline mental health conditions - OUD, Trauma, Anxiety, Depression, Axis 1
• PEG, PCS, PSEQ scores as well as the patient reported use of street drugs and pain medications will be collected at 4, 12, 24 weeks using a study designed questionnaire
• a semi-structured 1:1 patient interview at 12-24 weeks will assess opioid/drug use, as well as questions related to changes to housing, finances and overall health; this will be conducted with 10 randomly selected participants who have received myoActivation.

Statistical Analysis: To allow for correlation of repeated data points on the same patient as well as the anticipated variability in the number of data points for each patient, a linear mixed-effects model will be used to analyze the quantitative data, including PEG score and self-reported opioid use. A PEG score decrease of 30% will be taken to indicate an improved pain experience. The PCS and PSEQ scores will be used to interpret the severity and change of an individual's pain score.

The patient interview responses will be collated for common themes and used to augment the quantitative data outcomes. Interviews will be recorded and transcribed. Thematic analysis will be used to identify key words and phrases, list noted benefits of the service, potential problems raised and any preferences expressed by participants with respect to the way the treatment is administered.

Inclusion criteria

Any English-speaking patient with myofascial related chronic pain lasting >3 months, referred to the Vancouver Community (VC) chronic pain service by primary care.

Exclusion criteria

Any patient who has received any of the following pain interventions or treatment in the 3 months preceding recruitment/intake to the pain service:

• Intramuscular Stimulation (IMS);
• Trigger Point Injection (TPI) with or without injectate;
• External physiotherapy (i.e. outside the service offered at VC pain clinic);
• Massage;
• Joint injection;
• Chiropractic;
• Acupuncture;
• Group counselling at VC Pain Service (or has an existing appointment to attend Group counselling).

(note, exclusion list does not include pain medications or opioid replacement therapy; also note, patients who subsequently access the VC Pain Service Group counselling will continue to be included in the study)