Delayed-Onset Muscle Soreness Alters Mechanical Sensitivity, but Not Thermal Sensitivity or Pain Modulatory Function

• DOI: 10.2147/jpr.s449787
• Publication Date: 2024-02-08T04:30:12Z
• Authors: Jessica Peterson; Grant Chesbro; Michael Bemben; Rebecca Larson; Hugo Pereira; Christopher Black
• Keywords: Hypoalgesia; Nociceptor; Summation; Pain tolerance

Introduction: Many clinical musculoskeletal pain conditions are characterized by chronic inflammation that sensitizes nociceptors. An unresolved issue is whether affects all nociceptors in a similar manner. Exercise-induced muscle damage (EIMD) has been proposed as model for simulating inflammatory healthy samples. We sought to test the effect of EIMD on various painful stimuli (pressure and thermal), central processing (via nociceptive flexion reflex) endogenous modulation via conditioned exercise-induced hypoalgesia. Methods: Eighteen participants (9F, age: 24.6 ± 3.3) were recruited repeated measures testing each completed sensitivity prior 48 hours after an eccentric exercise protocol. The performed minimum 6 rounds 10 knee extension exercises induce localized right quadriceps. Force decrements, range-of-motion, delayed onset soreness (DOMS) used quantify EIMD. Results: There was significant main time pressure (%diff; − 58.9 23.1; p = 0.02, ηp2 0.28) but no observed limb 15.5 23.9; 0.53, 0.02). In contrast, there interaction between (p < 0.001, 0.47) whereby had lower leg only protocol 105.9 29.2; 0.002). Discussion: Individuals with usually have increased pressure, thermal, electrical stimuli, however, our sample, following acute mechanical pain. Exercise induced may reflect peripheral damaged rather than global like those display. Keywords: sensitivity, damage, inflammation,