Melián-Ortíz Alberto, Zurdo-Sayalero Eduardo, Perpiñá-Martínez Sara, Delgado-Lacosta Antonio, Jiménez-Antona Carmen, Fernández-Carnero Josué, Laguarta-Val Sofía
Faculty of Nuring and Physiotherapy Salus Infirmorum, Universidad Pontificia de Salamanca, 28015 Madrid, Spain.
Department of Physical Therapy, Occupational Therapy, Rehabilitation and Physical Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, Universidad Rey Juan Carlos (URJC), 28922 Alcorcón, Spain.
Brain Sci. 2025 May 16;15(5):510. doi: 10.3390/brainsci15050510.
Post-COVID-19 condition involves persistent symptoms after acute infection, often linked to dysautonomia, which affects heart rate variability, pain perception, fatigue, and sleep. Superficial neuromodulation has been proposed as a treatment. To assess the effects of superficial neuromodulation on symptoms, sleep quality, and autonomic function in post-COVID-19 condition patients. A pilot study was conducted based on a triple-blind randomized controlled trial methodology involving 16 female participants. The experimental group received neuromodulation, while the control group used a placebo device. The intervention spanned 15 sessions over two months. Primary outcomes included heart rate variability, pain threshold, cortisol levels, fatigue, sleep quality, and quality of life, analyzed using repeated-measures ANOVA. Both groups improved over time. Heart rate variability (SDNN) increased in the experimental group (30.42 to 39.11 ms) but decreased in controls (31.88 to 28.73 ms) ( < 0.05). Pain threshold at C5-C6 improved in the experimental group (2.1 to 3.5 kg/cm) but remained stable in controls ( = 0.032). Fatigue decreased significantly in both groups ( = 0.002). Sleep quality improved, with Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index scores decreasing similarly in both groups. Cortisol levels increased, with a non-significant trend favoring controls. : While improvements were seen, both groups benefited, suggesting a possible placebo effect. Superficial neuromodulation appears safe, but further studies with larger samples are needed to confirm efficacy.
新冠后状况涉及急性感染后的持续症状，通常与自主神经功能障碍有关，自主神经功能障碍会影响心率变异性、疼痛感知、疲劳和睡眠。有人提出采用表面神经调节作为一种治疗方法。为了评估表面神经调节对新冠后状况患者的症状、睡眠质量和自主神经功能的影响。基于一项三盲随机对照试验方法进行了一项试点研究，涉及16名女性参与者。实验组接受神经调节，而对照组使用安慰剂装置。干预为期两个月，共进行15次治疗。主要结局包括心率变异性、疼痛阈值、皮质醇水平、疲劳、睡眠质量和生活质量，采用重复测量方差分析进行分析。两组随时间均有改善。实验组的心率变异性（SDNN）增加（从30.42毫秒增至39.11毫秒），而对照组则下降（从31.88毫秒降至28.73毫秒）（<0.05）。实验组C5-C6处的疼痛阈值有所改善（从2.1千克/平方厘米增至3.5千克/平方厘米），而对照组保持稳定（=0.032）。两组的疲劳均显著减轻（=0.002）。睡眠质量得到改善，两组的匹兹堡睡眠质量指数得分下降情况相似。皮质醇水平升高，对照组有不显著的优势趋势。结论：虽然观察到有改善，但两组均从中受益，提示可能存在安慰剂效应。表面神经调节似乎是安全的，但需要更大样本量的进一步研究来证实其疗效。
