The Effect of Intermittent Theta Burst Stimulation on Brain Characteristics, Pain Intensity, and Cognitive Functions in Older People with Chronic Musculoskeletal Pain.

The goal of this clinical trial is to explore the effects of accelerated intermittent Theta Burst Stimulation (iTBS) on pain relief and cognitive function in older adults with chronic musculoskeletal pain. It will also utilize magnetic resonance imaging to illustrate the neurophysiological mechanisms underlying the role of iTBS in improving various outcome indicators in this population. The main questions it aims to answer are: 1. Is left dorsolateral prefrontal cortex stimulation using accelerated iTBS effective for older adults with chronic musculoskeletal pain? 2. What are the neurophysiological mechanisms underlying the role of iTBS in improving various outcome indicators in older adults with chronic musculoskeletal pain? Participants will: 1. Receive 1,200 stimuli during a single-session iTBS, totaling 14 days. 2. Undergo MRI scanning before, immediately after treatment, cognitive and pain-related tests before, immediately after treatment, and during follow-up.

NCT Number	NCT06709963
Lead Sponsor	The Hong Kong Polytechnic University
Conditions	Chronic Non-Specific Low Back Pain, Chronic Knee Pain, Chronic Musculoskeletal Pain
Enrollment	30 participants
Start Date	2024-09-20
Primary Completion	2026-12-31 (estimated)
Study Completion	2026-12-31 (estimated)
Updated on ClinicalTrials.gov	2025-01-15