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Neurology International
Special Issues
Non-Invasive Neuromodulation in Treatment of Chronic Pain
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Non-Invasive Neuromodulation in Treatment of Chronic Pain

A special issue of Neurology International (ISSN 2035-8377). This special issue belongs to the section "Pain Research".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 31 October 2026 | Viewed by 5634

Special Issue Editors

Prof. Dr. Raúl Ferrer-Peña

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Physiotherapy Department, CSEU La Salle, Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, Madrid, Spain
Interests: chronic pain; therapeutic education; non-invasive neuromodulation; motor imagery
Dr. Silvia Di Bonaventura

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor Assistant
Department of Physical Therapy, Occupational Therapy, Rehabilitation and Physical Medicine, Rey Juan Carlos University, Alcorcón, Spain
Interests: chronic pain; tDCS; rTMS; atDCS; non-invasive neuromodulation

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Chronic pain remains a major clinical and social challenge. Interventions addressing it should aim not only to reduce pain but to restore function and daily participation. We adopt a broad view of non-invasive neuromodulation: in addition to external techniques such as transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) and transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS), we include endogenous modulatory processes capable of reorganizing neural activity—for example, motor imagery, task-directed motor training, and therapeutic exercise—intentionally deployed as neuromodulatory strategies.

This Special Issue seeks contributions that link neurophysiological mechanisms with clinically meaningful and functional outcomes relevant to physical therapy and pain-centered practice. We invite clinical trials, translational studies, and systematic reviews that propose replicable, measurable interventions with demonstrable impact on activity and participation. Submissions that combine objective measures and patient-reported outcomes, and that integrate biopsychosocial and biobehavioral perspectives to support individualized treatment decisions, are especially welcome.

Our aim is to present a practical, evidence-based appraisal of current opportunities and limitations, and to promote interventions that genuinely improve function and quality of life for people living with chronic pain.

Prof. Dr. Raúl Ferrer-Peña
Guest Editor

Dr. Silvia Di Bonaventura
Guest Editor Assistant

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 250 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for assessment.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Neurology International is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 1800 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • non-invasive neuromodulation
  • chronic pain
  • neuroplasticity
  • pain sciences
  • therapeutic exercise
  • motor imagery

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Published Papers (2 papers)

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22 pages, 807 KB  
Systematic Review
Effectiveness of Physiotherapy Interventions on Executive Function in Patients with Chronic Pain: A Systematic Review
by Aser Donado-Bermejo, Silvia Di-Bonaventura, Pablo Barrenechea-Leal, Francisco Mercado-Romero, Marisa Fernández-Sánchez and Raúl Ferrer-Peña
Neurol. Int. 2026, 18(3), 55; https://doi.org/10.3390/neurolint18030055 - 16 Mar 2026
Viewed by 1103
Abstract
Background: Chronic pain is a prevalent and disabling condition that affects physical health but also cognitive domains. Executive functions, including inhibitory control, cognitive flexibility, and working memory, essentials for self-regulation, treatment adherence, and coping with symptoms, are particularly compromised. Physiotherapy interventions, traditionally aimed [...] Read more.
Background: Chronic pain is a prevalent and disabling condition that affects physical health but also cognitive domains. Executive functions, including inhibitory control, cognitive flexibility, and working memory, essentials for self-regulation, treatment adherence, and coping with symptoms, are particularly compromised. Physiotherapy interventions, traditionally aimed at physical outcomes, may also influence executive functions; however, their impact remains unclear. Objective: This review aimed to synthesize current evidence regarding the effects of physiotherapy-related interventions on executive function in adults with chronic pain. Methods: The review followed the Cochrane Handbook and Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews (PRISMA) guidelines, and the protocol was registered in PROSPERO (CRD42024611800). A comprehensive search was performed. Randomized controlled trials (RCTs) included adults with chronic pain (≥3 months) whose executive function outcomes were evaluated after physiotherapy-based interventions. Results: Out of 12,391 records, 10 randomized controlled trials were included. Populations primarily had fibromyalgia, chronic low back pain, and chronic musculoskeletal pain. Interventions encompassed transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS), transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS), neurofeedback, structured exercise, and multimodal physical-cognitive-mindfulness training. Intervention durations ranged from one session to 16 weeks. Executive function was assessed with diverse neuropsychological tests. tDCS improved attention, inhibitory control, cognitive flexibility, and working memory. Exercise interventions showed benefits in working memory and inhibitory control. Conclusions: Preliminary evidence suggests that physiotherapy interventions, particularly anodal tDCS and structured exercise, may improve executive functions in individuals with chronic pain. Future trials should incorporate long-term follow-up. Integrating cognitive targets into physiotherapy may enhance the multidimensional management of chronic pain. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Non-Invasive Neuromodulation in Treatment of Chronic Pain)
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17 pages, 2104 KB  
Systematic Review
Effectiveness of Pulsed Electromagnetic Field Therapy on Neuropathic Pain: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis
by Jesus Antonio Lara-Reyes, Cristofer Zarate-Calderon, Gonzalo E. Aranda-Abreu, Luis I. García and Fausto Rojas-Durán
Neurol. Int. 2026, 18(2), 28; https://doi.org/10.3390/neurolint18020028 - 6 Feb 2026
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 4154
Abstract
Background: Neuropathic pain represents a substantial global burden with limited effective therapeutic options. Pulsed Electromagnetic Field (PEMF) therapy has emerged as a potential non-invasive adjuvant, though clinical evidence remains inconsistent. This systematic review and meta-analysis evaluated PEMF efficacy and safety, specifically analyzing the [...] Read more.
Background: Neuropathic pain represents a substantial global burden with limited effective therapeutic options. Pulsed Electromagnetic Field (PEMF) therapy has emerged as a potential non-invasive adjuvant, though clinical evidence remains inconsistent. This systematic review and meta-analysis evaluated PEMF efficacy and safety, specifically analyzing the influence of etiology and stimulation parameters. Methods: Following PRISMA 2020 guidelines (PROSPERO: CRD420251184151), five databases (Cochrane, PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, and LILACS) were searched for Randomized Controlled Trials (RCTs) comparing PEMF versus sham. Risk of bias was assessed via Cochrane RoB 2, and heterogeneity was explored through detailed subgroup analyses. Results: Thirteen RCTs met the inclusion criteria (N = 688). While global analysis indicated a statistically significant pain reduction (SMD: −1.01; p = 0.03), it exhibited extreme statistical heterogeneity (I2 = 92.8%) and instability. After adjusting for missing studies using the Trim-and-Fill method, global significance disappeared. However, subgroup analysis resolved this inconsistency, revealing a massive, clinically meaningful effect in Spinal/Radicular pain (SMD: −2.35; 95% CI: −4.42 to −0.29), whereas Peripheral Neuropathy showed no significant reduction (SMD: −0.38; 95% CI: −0.86 to 0.10). Conclusions: The PEMF evidence base for neuropathic pain is currently highly fragmented. Extreme heterogeneity and publication bias render “one-size-fits-all” efficacy estimates invalid and potentially misleading. Instead, our data reveals a critical etiological divergence: PEMF appears highly effective for spinal/radicular pathology, likely due to the mechanical nature of the lesion, but demonstrates limited efficacy for diffuse peripheral neuropathy. Future research must abandon generic protocols in favor of etiology-specific trials, prioritizing high-frequency parameters and rigorous bias control. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Non-Invasive Neuromodulation in Treatment of Chronic Pain)
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