Innovative Technologies in Pain Management

A special issue of Life (ISSN 2075-1729). This special issue belongs to the section "Physiology and Pathology".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 30 June 2025 | Viewed by 575

Special Issue Editors


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Guest Editor
1. Toledo Physiotherapy Research Group (GIFTO), Faculty of Physical Therapy and Nursing, Universidad de Castilla-La Mancha, Toledo, Spain
2. Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria de Castilla-La Mancha (IDISCAM), Castilla-La Mancha, Spain
Interests: pain management; chronic pain; rehabilitation; physiotherapy; virtual reality
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Guest Editor
Department of Nursing and Physiotherapy, University of Cadiz, 11009 Cadiz, Spain
Interests: scientometrics; bibliometrics; science mapping analysis; mHealth; telerehabilitation; physiotherapy; physical therapy; altmetrics; chronic pain
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

This call for papers seeks to gather the latest evidence on innovative technologies in pain management. The primary goal is to assemble a collection of cutting-edge research that explores the impact of new technologies on managing pain and associated variables such as anxiety, depression, sleep, and quality of life. Our aim is to facilitate a swift and rigorous selection process to promptly deliver the most compelling scientific reports in this field.

Several key areas of interest include:

  • Extended reality (XR) technologies: Investigations into the application and effectiveness of virtual reality (VR), augmented reality (AR), mixed reality (MR), and other extended reality technologies in pain management.
  • Gamification for pain relief: Exploration of the use of gamified solutions to incentivize movement and improve patient engagement and outcomes.
  • Artificial Intelligence: Research on the implementation of AI in diagnosing, predicting, and personalizing pain management strategies to enhance precision and efficacy.
  • Psychosocial variables: Studies on how technological interventions impact anxiety, depression, sleep, and overall quality of life in patients experiencing pain.
  • Interdisciplinary approaches: Examination of the integration of technological solutions with traditional pain management techniques to enhance efficacy and patient satisfaction.
  • Clinical trials and case studies: Reports on clinical trials and case studies demonstrating the practical application and benefits of these innovative technologies in real-world settings.

This call for papers welcomes a variety of contributions, including the following:

  • Original articles: Groundbreaking research presenting new findings and insights in the field.
  • Reviews: Comprehensive reviews that synthesize existing knowledge and provide a holistic overview of a specific aspect of pain management through technology.
  • Research protocols: Detailed protocols for proposed research, especially those with innovative designs for utilizing new technologies in pain management.
  • Technical notes: Contributions focusing on the technical aspects of implementing and utilizing new technologies in pain management.

Authors are encouraged to submit their work to contribute to the ongoing discourse on the transformative role of technology in pain management. This call for papers emphasizes the importance of timely and impactful research to advance our understanding and clinical applications in these critical areas of medical science.

You may choose our Joint Special Issue in Healthcare.

Prof. Dr. Hector Beltran-Alacreu
Prof. Dr. José A. Moral-Munoz
Guest Editors

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Keywords

  • pain management
  • extended reality (XR) technologies
  • gamification for pain relief
  • psychosocial variables
  • interdisciplinary approaches

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Published Papers (1 paper)

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Research

18 pages, 795 KiB  
Article
The Golden Year? Early Intervention Yields Superior Outcomes in Chronic Pelvic Pain with Pudendal Neuralgia: A Comparative Analysis of Early vs. Delayed Treatment
by Alexandru Ciudin, Albert Carrion, Rosa Regue, Alfredo Rodriguez, Eduardo Garcia-Cruz, Diana Finkelstein, Claudia Mercader, Cristian Toma, Razvan Popescu, Cristian Persu, Sergi Colom, Narcis Camps, Ramon Serrate and María José Ribal
Life 2025, 15(3), 376; https://doi.org/10.3390/life15030376 - 27 Feb 2025
Viewed by 325
Abstract
Background: Chronic pelvic pain (CPP) associated with pudendal neuralgia (PN) significantly impacts quality of life (QoL). Pudendal nerve infiltration is a recognized treatment, but the optimal timing of intervention remains unclear. Methods: This prospective study included 81 patients diagnosed with PN and treated [...] Read more.
Background: Chronic pelvic pain (CPP) associated with pudendal neuralgia (PN) significantly impacts quality of life (QoL). Pudendal nerve infiltration is a recognized treatment, but the optimal timing of intervention remains unclear. Methods: This prospective study included 81 patients diagnosed with PN and treated with pudendal nerve infiltrations. Outcomes were assessed using the Visual Analog Scale (VAS), Spanish Pain Questionnaire (CDE–McGill), and the SF-12 health survey. Significant improvement was defined as a VAS reduction > 4 points and a QoL increase > 15 points. An ROC curve analysis identified a 13-month time-to-treatment threshold (sensitivity 78%, specificity 72%), categorizing patients into early (n = 27) and delayed treatment groups (n = 54). Results: The early treatment group showed significantly greater reductions in VAS scores (5.4 vs. 3.4 points, p < 0.01) and QoL improvements (18 vs. 8 points, p < 0.01) compared to the delayed group. Early intervention reduced reinfiltration rates (10% vs. 35%, p < 0.05) and decreased medication use, with 81% discontinuing gabapentin compared to 41% in the delayed group. Similar trends were observed for tryptizol (44% vs. 35%) and tramadol (74% vs. 30%). Multivariate analysis confirmed time to treatment as the strongest predictor of outcomes, with each additional month delaying treatment associated with a 0.18-point increase in final VAS scores (p < 0.001). Delayed treatment was linked to higher final doses of gabapentin (p = 0.01), dexketoprofen (p < 0.001), and tramadol (p = 0.012). Minimal complications were reported (15%, Clavien I). Conclusions: Early intervention in PN significantly improves pain, QoL, and reduces reinfiltration and medication reliance, supporting timely treatment for optimal outcomes. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Innovative Technologies in Pain Management)
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