Motor adaptation varies between individuals in the transition to sustained pain

Simon J Summers, Lucy S Chipchase, Rogerio Hirata, Thomas Graven-Nielsen, Rocco Cavaleri, Siobhan M Schabrun

Research output: Contribution to journalJournal articleResearchpeer-review

15 Citations (Scopus)
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Abstract

Musculoskeletal pain is associated with altered motor control that despite short-term benefit, is hypothesised to have long-term consequences, contributing to the development of chronic pain. However, data on how motor control is altered when pain is sustained beyond a transient event are scarce. Here, we investigated motor adaptation, and its relationship to corticomotor excitability, in the transition to sustained muscle pain. Twenty-eight healthy individuals were injected with nerve growth factor (NGF) into the right extensor carpi radialis brevis (ECRB) muscle on Days 0 and 2. Motor adaptation and corticomotor excitability were assessed on Day -2, prior to injection on Days 0 and 2, and again on Days 4 and 14. Motor adaptation was quantified during a radial-ulnar movement as kinematic variability of wrist flexion-extension and pronation-supination, and as electromyographic (EMG) variability of ECRB activity. Pain, muscle soreness, and functional limitation were assessed from Days 0-14. Pain, muscle soreness and functional limitation were evident at Days 2 and 4 (p<0.001). EMG variability reduced at Days 4 and 14 (p<0.04), with no change in kinematic variability (p=0.9). However, data revealed variation in EMG and kinematic variability between individuals: some displayed increased motor variability while others a decrease. Individuals who displayed an increase in EMG variability following four days of pain also displayed an increase in corticomotor excitability (r=0.43, p=0.034). These findings suggest individual adaptation of the motor system in the transition to sustained pain that could have implications for clinical musculoskeletal pain disorders.

Original languageEnglish
JournalPain
Volume160
Issue number9
Pages (from-to)2115-2125
Number of pages11
ISSN0304-3959
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 2019

Keywords

  • Motor adaptation
  • Motor cortex plasticity
  • Motor variability
  • Musculoskeletal pain
  • Transcranial magnetic stimulation

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