Evaluation of Facial Electromyographic Pain Responses in Healthy Participants

Abstract

Aim: Assessing pain perception through self-reports may not be possible in some patients, for example, sedated. Our group considered if facial electromyography (fEMG) could provide a useful alternative, by testing on healthy participants subjected to experimental pain. Materials & methods: Activity of four facial muscles was recorded using fEMG alongside self-reported pain scores and physiological parameters. Results: The pain stimulus elicited significant activity on all facial muscles of interest as well as increases in heart rate. Activity from two of the facial muscles correlated significantly against pain intensity. Conclusion: Pain perception can be assessed through fEMG on healthy participants. We believe that this model would be valuable to clinicians that need to diagnose pain perception in circumstances where verbal reporting is not possible.

Keywords::

• facial muscles
• fEMG
• hand surgery
• pain

Author contributions

R Governo conducted the data analysis and provided the majority of the manuscript script; B Eden-Green, T Dawes, I Mavridou, J Giles and C Rosten were responsible for the study paradigm, external consultation, participant recruitment and data acquisition; J Rennie-Taylor provided guidance on fEMG acquisition and analysis; C Nduka sponsored the study and was in overall control.

Financial & competing interests disclosure

Administrative costs for the study were supported by a small grant from the Anaesthesia Research Fund, Queen Victoria Hospital. Also, C Nduka is director of the Aesthetic Research Group LLP, a not-for-profit company that aims to facilitate the validation of new technologies. He is also chief science officer at Emteq Ltd. The authors have no other relevant affiliations or financial involvement with any organization or entity with a financial interest in or financial conflict with the subject matter or materials discussed in the manuscript apart from those disclosed.

No writing assistance was utilized in the production of this manuscript.

Ethical conduct of research

All aspects of the study, such as experimental procedures outlined below, were carried out in accordance with the recommended guidelines defined by the University of Brighton Research Ethics Committee. This committee required the authors to submit copies of all the printed forms used in the study, namely adverts, consent forms and participant information leaflet (PIL). These were reviewed and agreed prior to the committee granting study approval. All participants who responded to the adverts were required to read the entire PIL and to agree to each of the terms of the consent form by signing the latter prior to participation in the study.

Additional information

Funding

Administrative costs for the study were supported by a small grant from the Anaesthesia Research Fund, Queen Victoria Hospital. Also, C Nduka is director of the Aesthetic Research Group LLP, a not-for-profit company that aims to facilitate the validation of new technologies. He is also chief science officer at Emteq Ltd. The authors have no other relevant affiliations or financial involvement with any organization or entity with a financial interest in or financial conflict with the subject matter or materials discussed in the manuscript apart from those disclosed. No writing assistance was utilized in the production of this manuscript.