The Added Value of Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation (tDCS) During Exercise for People With Chronic Widespread Pain
Key facts
- Where
- Jette, BelgiumSee the site
Could this be for you?
Answer for yourself. This is not a decision: only the study team can say whether you can take part.
- Are you between 18 and 70 years old?
Source: NCT07212829, who can take part
Where in Belgium
- VUBJette, BelgiumContact: Pain in Motion research group, PhDTaking people
Questions to ask the study team
- How often do I need to come in, and for how long each time?
- Are travel costs paid?
- Can I keep my own doctor?
- What happens if I want to stop?
Contact the study team: see the registry record → Contacts and Locations
Print a page for my doctorTrial details
- Who runs it
- Vrije Universiteit Brussel
- Trial code
- NCT07212829
- Record updated
- 20 April 2026
- Original description
Many people with chronic widespread pain (CWP) feel more pain and fatigue after exercise. This makes it hard to stay active. Unfortunately, the investigators do not fully understand why this happens and how to prevent it.Read full original descriptionShow less
Unravelling the Epigenetic Mechanisms of Exercise-induced Pain in Chronic Widespread Pain: DNA Methylation Regulation of the Brain-derived Neurotrophic Factor Expression and Its Modulation by Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation
Many people with chronic widespread pain (CWP) feel more pain and fatigue after exercise. This makes it hard to stay active. Unfortunately, the investigators do not fully understand why this happens and how to prevent it.
The primary goal of this study is to explore the underlying genetic and epigenetic mechanisms of BDNF gene in response to exercise, and investigate if transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) during exercise works to improve worsening symptoms response to exercise in people with CWP.
The investigators designed a randomized crossover study and will enroll 60 patients with CWP and 60 healthy controls. Participants will undergo 2 interventions in random order: 1) exercise + active tDCS, and 2) exercise + sham tDCS. Participants will visit the hospital twice with at least one week in between the visits.
Inclusion: Patients; Participants in the patient group must meet all of the following criteria:; Diagnosis of chronic widespread pain (CWP) or fibromyalgia; Age between 18 and 70 years old; Body mass index (BMI) ≤ 35; Widespread Pain Index (WPI) assessment: the WPI questionnaire (0-19 points) will be used to record the number and distribution of painful body sites. Participants will be classified as having CWP if pain is reported on both sides of the body, above and below the waist, and in the axial skeleton, with pain symptoms lasting ≥ 3 months; Stable medication use for at least 1 month prior to study entry; Healthy control group; Participants in the healthy control group must meet all of the following criteria:; Age between 18 and 70 years old; Body mass index (BMI) ≤ 35; No chronic conditions, such as chronic pain and diabetes.
Exclusion: History of neurological disorders, including epilepsy (personal or family history), traumatic brain injury, stroke, dementia, or Parkinson's disease; Major medical conditions, including cancer, endocrine or metabolic disorders, urine, genital and cardiovascu-lar diseases (e.g., myocardial infarction, heart failure, arrhythmia, uncontrolled hypertension); Presence of psychiatric disorders other than depression or anxiety; For both patients and healthy controls, participants will be excluded if they meet any of the following:; Current pregnancy or pregnancy within the past 12 months; Contraindications for non-invasive brain stimulation (NIBS), in line with published safety guidelines; Substance abuse.