Loading...
Movement does not promote recovery of motor output following acute experimental muscle pain
Schabrun, Siobhan M. Palsson, Thorvaldur S. Thapa, Tribikram Graven-Nielsen, Thomas
Schabrun, Siobhan M.
Palsson, Thorvaldur S.
Thapa, Tribikram
Graven-Nielsen, Thomas
Abstract
Objective
To examine the effect of motor activity on the magnitude and duration of altered corticomotor output following experimental muscle pain.
Design
Experimental, pre-post test.
Setting
University laboratory.
Subjects
Twenty healthy individuals.
Methods
Participants were randomly allocated to a Rest or Movement group. The Rest group sat quietly without moving for the duration of the experiment. The Movement group repeated a unimanual pattern of five sequential keystrokes as quickly and as accurately as possible immediately following the resolution of pain. Pain was induced into the right extensor carpi radialis brevis muscle by a bolus injection of 0.5 mL hypertonic saline. Corticomotor output was assessed as motor evoked potentials in response to transcranial magnetic stimulation before, immediately after, and at 10, 20, and 30 minutes following pain resolution. Pain intensity was recorded every 30 seconds using an 11-point numerical rating scale.
Results
There was no difference in peak pain intensity (P < 0.09) or duration (P < 0.2) between groups. Corticomotor output was reduced in both groups (P < 0.002) at 10 minutes (P < 0.002), 20 minutes (P < 0.02), and 30 minutes (P < 0.037) following the resolution of pain relative to baseline. There was no difference between groups at any time point.
Conclusions
Performance of motor activity immediately following the resolution of acute muscle pain did not alter the magnitude or duration of corticomotor depression. Understanding corticomotor depression in the postpain period and what factors promote recovery has relevance for clinical pain syndromes where ongoing motor dysfunction, in the absence of pain, may predispose to symptom persistence or recurrence.
Keywords
corticomotor output, experimental muscle pain, motor activity, recovery, transcranial magnetic stimulation
Date
2018
Type
Journal article
Journal
Pain Medicine
Book
Volume
19
Issue
3
Page Range
608-614
Article Number
ACU Department
School of Allied Health
Faculty of Health Sciences
Faculty of Health Sciences
Collections
Relation URI
Source URL
Event URL
Open Access Status
License
All rights reserved
File Access
Controlled