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Advances in Non-Invasive Neuromodulation

  • Neuromodulation (A Abd-Elsayed, Section Editor)
  • Published:
Current Pain and Headache Reports Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Purpose of Review

Pain medicine is rapidly expanding. The gap in treatment for patients with chronic pain in between traditional conservative therapy and major invasive surgery is closing. Neuromodulation is one therapeutic area that has continued to show promise for treatment of chronic pain. Our aim is to review updates in non-invasive neuromodulation (NIN) techniques as an adjunct for various chronic pain conditions.

Recent Findings

Overall, the literature suggests that NIN techniques such as tCDS, TMS, TENS, tVNS, and HIFUS/LIFUS have utility in treating various types of chronic pain and have a promising future.

Summary

There is a better understanding of the mechanistic basis for pain relief from NIN, as well as refinement in technology improving NIN therapy success. Future studies will need to focus on continuing to refine protocols for optimal benefit from NIN as well as implementing larger RCTs to improve the quality of data being generated in the field.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Anesthesiology, Division of Pain Medicine, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA, USA

    Brian Brenner, Tyler Ericson & Lynn Kohan

  2. Pain Management Center, Fontaine Research Park, Third Floor, 545 Ray C Hunt Dr., Charlottesville, VA, 22908, USA

    Lynn Kohan

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  1. Brian Brenner
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Correspondence to Lynn Kohan.

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Brenner, B., Ericson, T. & Kohan, L. Advances in Non-Invasive Neuromodulation. Curr Pain Headache Rep 26, 709–717 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11916-022-01081-3

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