Affiliations: [a] Faculty of Health and Life Sciences, INTI International University, Nilai, Malaysia | [b] Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, University Tunku Abdul Rahman, Bandar Sungai Long, Kajang, Selangor, Malaysia | [c] Lee Kong Chian Faculty of Engineering and Science, University Tunku Abdul Rahman, Bandar Sungai Long, Kajang, Selangor, Malaysia
Correspondence:
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Corresponding author: Poh Foong Lee, Lee Kong Chian Faculty of Engineering and Science, University Tunku Abdul Rahman, Bandar Sungai Long, 43000 Kajang, Selangor, Malaysia. E-mail: leepf@utar.edu.my.
Abstract: BACKGROUND: Brainwaves studies on pain are gaining more attention in recent years. However, the target group in a similar study on collegiate athletes with musculoskeletal pain is still under explore. OBJECTIVE: The objective is to investigate the differences of the brainwaves response and its association with pain interference of the collegiate athletes with and without musculoskeletal pain. METHODS: Collegiate athletes (n= 49) were recruited and categorized into pain group (PG) (n= 25) and no-pain group (NPG) (n= 24). Brainwaves were recorded for 2 minutes with eyes closed in a resting state using EEG. Pain intensity and pain interference were documented using visual analogue scale and brief pain inventory, respectively. Independent t-test was used to compare brainwaves of PG and NPG, and Spearman’s correlation was used to find the association between brain waves and pain interference. RESULTS: Findings showed a significant decrease (p< 0.05) in brain waves in PG on left temporal regions as compared to NPG. Frontal beta, theta, and gamma waves were found to be negatively correlated with participants’ pain interference. CONCLUSION: This outcome potentially contributes EEG as an alternative non-invasive tool for an objective pain assessment method in health care technology to aid in the rehabilitation process.
