ACHING Study
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Investigating pAin and Challenges to future Health and wellbeING (ACHING) study.
IRAS ID
311699
Contact name
David A Walsh
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
University of Nottingham
Clinicaltrials.gov Identifier
TBC, ClinicalTrials.gov; #026, PPI
Duration of Study in the UK
1 years, 0 months, 30 days
Research summary
This study investigates pain and risk factors linked with challenges to future health and wellbeing. Pain and future health are important, particularly in an ageing population. Not everyone ages in the same way and some people take longer to recover from setbacks such as illness or injury, and in some, this may lead to frailty. Frailty is an age-associated state of vulnerability to challenge. Whilst vulnerability is not directly measurable; some questionnaires classify frailty using signs of disability and illnesses, which are often present in people with frailty.
We think that knee pain is an important factor which might influence future health. The central nervous system (brain and spine) not only senses pain but may also increase and prolong pain sensation. This is called central sensitisation. Pain can affect how we think and feel. Higher central sensitisation may increase sensitivity to challenge in terms of sensory and emotional aspects.
Previous work showed Central Mechanism Trait measured using the CAP-knee questionnaire predicted future knee pain and indicated central sensitisation. We found pain and Central Mechanism Trait are associated with an increased risk of frailty. This increased sensitivity amplifies the response to pain and challenges such as illness, and therefore Central Mechanism Trait might be a measure of vulnerability to challenge. This resembles frailty, in which the decline of physical capacity results in an exaggerated response to stressors or challenges leading to deteriorating health.
This study at the University of Nottingham, will assess ~122 people with knee pain; robust people will be age and sex-matched with people classified as frail. We will compare the two groups assessing pain, Central Mechanism Trait, its underlying components, and indicators of other pain mechanisms to determine what explains the links between pain and frailty. This will help us develop new targeted treatments to improve the healthspan.REC name
North West - Greater Manchester Central Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
22/NW/0242
Date of REC Opinion
16 Aug 2022
REC opinion
Favourable Opinion