ORCID Profile
0000-0002-9943-2713
Current Organisations
Aalborg University
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Aalborg Universitet
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Publisher: Ovid Technologies (Wolters Kluwer Health)
Date: 05-2019
DOI: 10.1097/PR9.0000000000000737
Abstract: Joint position sense (JPS) is impaired in clinical musculoskeletal pain conditions, but when this impairment develops in the transition from initial to prolonged pain is not known. This study assessed whether progressively developing sustained experimentally induced muscle pain impacts JPS in healthy in iduals. Twenty-eight healthy in iduals received injection of nerve growth factor (NGF) into the right extensor carpi radialis brevis muscle on days 0 and 2 to induce sustained pain and hyperalgesia. Wrist JPS was assessed 2 days before day 0 (day −2), before the injection on days 0 and 2, and on days 4 and 14. Joint position sense was quantified as the ability to return the wrist to a neutral position following movements in the direction of radial and ulnar deviation. A 3-dimensional motion analysis system was used to calculate absolute, relative, and joint-angle repositioning errors. Numerical rating scale scores of pain intensity, body chart pain drawings, and pressure pain thresholds (PPTs) were recorded on each day. Compared with baseline, pressure pain thresholds decreased while pain intensity and area increased at day 2 ( P 0.001) and day 4 ( P 0.001) before returning to baseline on day 14 ( P 0.13). Relative to day 0, there was no change in wrist JPS at day 2, 4, and 14 following movements in either target direction ( P 0.05). Despite the presence of sustained muscle pain and hyperalgesia for 4 days at the elbow, no statistical change in wrist joint position error was observed. These findings suggest that pain and hyperalgesia lasting as long as 4 days does not impair JPS.
Publisher: Wiley
Date: 29-05-2017
DOI: 10.1111/SMS.12905
Abstract: Delayed onset muscle soreness (DOMS) occurs within 1‐2 days after eccentric exercise, but the mechanism mediating hypersensitivity is unclear. This study hypothesized that eccentric exercise reduces the blood flow response following muscle contractions and cuff occlusion, which may result in accumulated algesic substances being a part of the sensitization in DOMS. Twelve healthy subjects (five women) performed dorsiflexion exercise (five sets of 10 repeated eccentric contractions) in one leg, while the contralateral leg was the control. The maximal voluntary contraction (MVC) of the tibialis anterior muscle was recorded. Blood flow was assessed by ultrasound Doppler on the anterior tibialis artery (ATA) and within the anterior tibialis muscle tissue before and immediately after 1‐second MVC, 5‐seconds MVC, and 5‐minutes thigh cuff occlusion. Pressure pain thresholds (PPTs) were recorded on the tibialis anterior muscle. All measures were done bilaterally at day 0 (pre‐exercise), day 2, and day 6 (post‐exercise). Subjects scored the muscle soreness on a Likert scale for 6 days. Eccentric exercise increased Likert scores at day 1 and day 2 compared with day 0 ( P .001). Compared with pre‐exercise (day 0), reduced PPT (~25%, P .002), MVC (~22%, P .002), ATA diameter (~8%, P .002), ATA post‐contraction/occlusion blood flow (~16%, P .04), and intramuscular peak blood flow (~23%, P .03) were found in the DOMS leg on day 2 but not in the control leg. These results showed that eccentric contractions decreased vessel diameter, impaired the blood flow response, and promoted hyperalgesia. Thus, the results suggest that the blood flow reduction may be involved in the increased pain response after eccentric exercise.
Publisher: Ovid Technologies (Wolters Kluwer Health)
Date: 04-01-2022
Publisher: Oxford University Press (OUP)
Date: 22-02-2018
DOI: 10.1093/PM/PNY015
Abstract: To investigate if attention to additional sensory information from the fingertip can improve postural stability during pain, which is known to impair balance. In 16 healthy volunteers, experimental pain was induced by intramuscular injection of hypertonic saline in the right vastus medialis muscle (isotonic saline used as nonpainful control, intramuscular injection in the same location). Pain intensity was assessed on an 11-point numeric rating scale (NRS 0 representing "no pain" and 10 "maximum pain"). Subjects were asked to stand as still as possible on a force plate for 40 seconds with their eyes closed. Their postural stability was quantified by the area and velocity of center of pressure (CoP) displacement. The CoP was recorded with and without pain during two different conditions: 1) no touch and 2) the subjects were asked to lightly touch a curtain with their right index finger and focus their attention on keeping it as still as possible. Hypertonic injections induced higher NRS scores compared with control injections (P < 0.05). During the hypertonic injection condition, the CoP area and velocity in both directions increased during no touch compared with the light touch condition (P < 0.05). No differences were found during light touch between the hypertonic and isotonic injection conditions. Although experimental knee-related pain impaired postural stability, lightly touching a curtain with the fingertip decreased postural sway during painful conditions. Providing additional sensory information while pain patients are performing balance exercises may improve postural stability and increase the quality of exercise, consequent rehabilitation protocols, and clinical outcomes.
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 10-2017
DOI: 10.1016/J.JSAMS.2017.04.007
Abstract: To investigate the effects of experimental adductor pain on the pain referral pattern, mechanical sensitivity and muscle activity during common clinical tests. Repeated-measures design. In two separate sessions, 15 healthy males received a hypertonic (painful) and isotonic (control) saline injection to either the adductor longus (AL) tendon to produce experimental groin pain or into the rectus femoris (RF) tendon as a painful control. Pain intensity was recorded on a visual analogue scale (VAS) with pain distribution indicated on body maps. Pressure pain thresholds (PPT) were assessed bilaterally in the groin area. Electromyography (EMG) of relevant muscles was recorded during six provocation tests. PPT and EMG assessment were measured before, during and after experimental pain. Hypertonic saline induced higher VAS scores than isotonic saline (p<0.001), and a local pain distribution in 80% of participants. A proximal pain referral to the lower abdominal region in 33% (AL) and 7% (RF) of participants. Experimental pain (AL and RF) did not significantly alter PPT values or the EMG litude in groin or trunk muscles during provocation tests when forces were matched with baseline. This study demonstrates that AL tendon pain was distributed locally in the majority of participants but may refer to the lower abdomen. Experimental adductor pain did not significantly alter the mechanical sensitivity or muscle activity patterns.
Publisher: Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Date: 19-06-2019
DOI: 10.1007/S00221-019-05587-Y
Abstract: Experimental pain inhibits primary motor cortex (M1) excitability. Attenuating pain-related inhibition of M1 excitability may be useful during rehabilitation in in iduals with pain. One strategy to attenuate M1 excitability is to influence prefrontal and premotor cortex activity. Working memory tasks, e.g. the two-back task (TBT), engage prefrontal and premotor cortices and may influence M1 excitability. We hypothesized that performing the TBT during pain would influence pain-related changes in M1 excitability. Participants (n = 28) received rigorous training in the TBT before baseline testing. Experimental pain was induced by injecting hypertonic saline into the first dorsal interosseous (FDI) muscle. Participants rated pain intensity on a 0-10 numerical rating scale (NRS) every second min until pain-resolved (PR) during the performance of the TBT (n = 14) or during REST (n = 14). In the TBT, letters were presented pseudo-randomly, and accuracy and reaction time to identified letters corresponding to letters shown two times back were recorded. M1 excitability was assessed using transcranial magnetic stimulation. Motor-evoked potentials (MEPs) were recorded at baseline, and at PR, PR + 10, PR + 20, and PR + 30 min. Four minutes after hypertonic saline injection, the pain NRS scores were higher in the TBT group than the REST group (p = 0.009). No time × group interaction was found for MEPs (p = 0.73), but a main effect of time (p < 0.0005) revealed a reduction of MEPs at PR up until PR + 30 (p < 0.008). The TBT accuracy improved at PR + 30 in both groups (p = 0.019). In conclusion, the pain-induced reduction in corticomotor excitability was unaffected by performing a working memory task, despite greater pain in the TBT group.
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 2023
Publisher: Wiley
Date: 06-08-2015
DOI: 10.1111/SMS.12529
Abstract: The criterion of long-standing groin pain diagnoses in athletes usually relies on palpation and clinical tests. An experimental pain model was developed to examine the clinical tests under standardized conditions. Pain was induced by hypertonic saline injected into the proximal adductor longus (AL) tendon or rectus femoris (RF) tendon in 15 healthy male participants. Isotonic saline was injected contralaterally as a control. Pain intensity was assessed on a visual analog scale (VAS). Resisted hip adduction at three different angles and trunk flexion were completed before, during, and after injections. Pain provocation in the presence of experimental pain was recorded as a true positive compared with pain provocation in the non-pain conditions. Similar peak VAS scores were found after hypertonic saline injections into the AL and RF and both induced higher VAS scores than isotonic saline (P < 0.01). Adduction at 0° had the greatest positive likelihood ratio (+LR = 2.8, 95%CI: 1.09-7.32) with 45° (-LR = 0.0, 95%CI: 0.00-1.90) and 90° (-LR = 0.0, 95%CI: 0.00-0.94) having the lowest negative LR. This study indicates that the 0° hip adduction test resisted at the ankles optimizes the diagnostic procedure without compromising diagnostic capacity to identify experimental groin pain. Validation in clinical populations is warranted.
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 07-2023
Publisher: Wiley
Date: 06-04-2023
DOI: 10.1002/PRI.2004
Abstract: Personality traits are associated with pain‐related beliefs and coping strategies, and different chronic conditions are linked through specific personality profiles. This highlights the importance of having valid and reliable measures of personality traits for use in clinical and research settings when assessing patients in chronic pain. To translate and cross‐culturally adapt the 10‐item Big Five Inventory (BFI‐10) into Danish. A bilingual expert panel ( N = 4) and a panel of laymen ( N = 8) translated and culturally adapted the questionnaire into Danish. Face validity was evaluated in a group of persons suffering from recurring or ongoing painful conditions ( N = 9). Data were collected to evaluate the internal consistency, test–retest reliability and factor structure ( N = 96). Some of the participants in the lay panel considered the questionnaire too short, considering its aim of assessing personality. Acceptable internal consistency was found for two out of five subscales (0.78 for both Extraversion and Neuroticism), while the internal consistency was non‐acceptable for the remaining subscales (0.17–0.45). Test–retest reliability was acceptable for three subscales (0.80 for Neuroticism, 0.84 for Conscientiousness, and 0.85 for Extraversion). Assumptions for determining the factor structure were not met and therefore was this analysis omitted. Although face valid, only two out of five subscales had acceptable internal consistency and only three subscales had acceptable test–retest reliability. These findings indicate that interpreting findings regarding personality using the Danish BFI‐10 should be done with caution.
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 04-2015
DOI: 10.1016/J.JPAIN.2015.01.008
Abstract: Clinical neck pain affects pain sensitivity and coordination of neck muscles, but the impact on the shoulder muscles is unclear. This study investigated the effect of experimental neck pain on the activity of the axioscapular muscles during arm movements and changes in pain sensitivity. Experimental neck pain was induced in 24 healthy volunteers by injecting hypertonic saline into the splenius capitis. Isotonic saline was injected as control. Before, during, and after injections, electromyography was recorded bilaterally from 8 muscles during standardized arm movements (140° scapular plane elevation), and the root mean square litude was extracted. Likewise, pressure pain thresholds were assessed bilaterally on 3 sites. The root mean square electromyography was decreased for the ipsilateral upper trapezius (P < .01) and increased for the ipsilateral middle deltoid (P < .03) during upward movements. The root mean square electromyography was reduced for the ipsilateral upper trapezius (P < .01) during downward movement, whereas an increase was recorded in the contralateral external oblique (P < .02). At the injection site, the pressure pain threshold increased during pain compared with the post condition (5 minutes after potential pain had subsided P < .03). In this study, trunk and axioscapular muscle activities were reorganized in response to localized and referred pain evoked by hypertonic saline injection into an intrinsic neck muscle with no direct attachments to the trunk or shoulder girdle. Reorganized activity of the axioscapular muscles has been shown previously in neck pain patients and is believed to happen during the transition from acute to chronic pain. The present study demonstrates for the first time that such reorganization may happen acutely, adding to our understanding of the effects of acute neck pain.
Publisher: Walter de Gruyter GmbH
Date: 04-12-2019
Abstract: Assessing personality in research can be of importance, especially due to the potential relationship between different personality traits and the manifestation of symptoms in different clinical conditions. Therefore, it is important to have valid and reliable tools that allow for the assessment of personality traits. In this study, the aim was to translate and culturally adapt the Big Five Inventory (BFI) to the Danish language. A dual panel approach, consisting of a 4-person bilingual panel and an 8-person panel with laymen, was used to translate and culturally adapt the questionnaire. A third 9-person panel consisting of people with different medical diagnosis was used to assess the face validity. Internal consistency (Cronbach’s α) and test-retest reliability (intraclass correlation coefficients (ICC)) were tested amongst 96 subjects. The translated version demonstrated adequate internal consistency (0.66–0.84) and good-excellent test-retest reliability (0.86–0.95). The smallest detectable change is between 1.13–1.70 for the five subscales. Both the healthy and patient panels of laymen considered the questionnaire too long. This translated version of the Big Five Inventory demonstrated high to very high test-retest reliability and, for most parts, an acceptable internal consistency. The construct validity was however different from versions translated into languages geographically and culturally similar to Danish. Assessing the Big Five personality traits in Danish populations can be valuable for many reasons, e.g. when assessing people in pain in both clinical and experimental settings. Improved knowledge of the underlying driver of pain conditions is important. Here, understanding how personality may interact with pain can help researchers and clinicians.
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 06-2022
DOI: 10.1016/J.JBIOMECH.2021.110496
Abstract: Foot orthoses are a first line conservative treatment for foot impairments in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA), however their effect on gait mechanics is poorly understood. We aimed to compare changes in lower limb and foot mechanics between two types of commonly used foot orthoses (FO) with a control. Twenty-seven patients with rheumatoid arthritis participated in this crossover study. Two different types of FO (a medially wedged custom-made FO and a prefabricated FO with a metatarsal dome, respectively), were compared against a control insole. During gait, lower limb mechanics were analyzed using 3D motion capture, force plates, and an in-shoe pressure system. Inverse dynamics models were created in the Anybody Modeling System to calculate joint angles and joint moments during gait. Gait variables were analyzed using statistical parametric mapping. Compared to the control, the prefabricated FO had limited effect on gait mechanics. Compared to the control the custom-made FO reduced ankle plantarflexion moment with 0.4 %body weight * body height (BW * BH) between 66 and 76% of stance and ankle eversion moment was reduced 0.16% BW*BH between 3 and 40% of stance. Furthermore, it also reduced the average forefoot plantar pressure by 9 kPa between 20 and 62% of stance compared to the control. Changes in foot pressure distribution, joint moments and angles were most pronounced for custom-made FO compared to the prefabricated FO. The findings suggest that patients with RA and foot impairments may benefit more from an in idualized FO strategy, if the aim of the treatment is to alter gait mechanics. (NCT03561688).
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 06-2022
DOI: 10.1016/J.GAITPOST.2022.04.016
Abstract: Foot pain is frequent among people with rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Foot orthoses (FO) are commonly prescribed with the intention to reduce pain symptoms and improve function. How do a custom-made FO affect pain, gait biomechanics and daily activity among people with RA? Twenty-five participants with RA and foot pain completed this quasi-experimental study using a control insole for four weeks and then a custom-made FO in the following four weeks. The foot orthoses were customized by plantar foot shape targeting optimal restoration of normal arch height. A visual analog scale was used to monitor changes in ankle/foot, knee, hip joints, and global arthritis pain. In addition, the perceived pain area was measured using a body chart analysis. Kinematics and kinetics of the hip, knee and ankle joints during gait were analyzed using 3D-motion capture. Daily steps were measured with a wrist-based activity tracker for both the control insole and custom-made FO period, respectively. In comparison to the control insole, the custom-made FO reduced ankle/foot pain intensity (p < 0.001) in addition to a reduction of the perceived pain areas in the feet (p < 0.001), legs (p = 0.012), as well as the arms and hands (p = 0.014). Ankle plantar flexion and eversion moments were also reduced (p < 0.001). No difference in daily steps was observed between the two periods (p = 0.657). This study has demonstrated an ankle/foot pain-relieving effect in conjunction with alterations of the ankle joint moments in people with RA using custom-made FO. The pain relief is plausibly attributed to alterations of the ankle joint moments when using the custom-made FO. However, future studies are needed to explore further into therapeutic implication of custom-made FO in pain management of people with RA.
Publisher: Oxford University Press (OUP)
Date: 11-2015
DOI: 10.1111/PME.12824
Abstract: Lateral epicondylalgia presents as lateral elbow pain provoked by upper limb tasks. An experimental model of elbow pain provoked by movement/muscle contraction and maintained over several days is required to better understand the mechanisms underlying sustained elbow pain. This study investigated the time course and pain location induced by nerve growth factor (NGF) injection into a wrist extensor muscle, and whether movement and muscle contraction/stretch provoked pain. On Day 0 twenty-six painfree volunteers were injected with NGF (N = 13) or isotonic saline (randomized) into the extensor carpi radialis brevis (ECRB) muscle of the dominant arm. On Day 2 pain was induced in all participants by hypertonic saline injection into ECRB. A Likert scale and patient-rated tennis elbow evaluation (PRTEE) was used to assess pain and functional limitation (Days 0-10). Pain intensity during contraction/stretch of ECRB, and pressure pain thresholds (PPTs) were recorded before and after injections on Days 0 and 2, and Days 4 and 10. Compared with isotonic saline, NGF evoked: i) greater Likert pain ratings from 12 hours post-injection until Day 6, ii) greater PRTEE scores on Days 2 and 4, iii) greater pain during ECRB contraction/stretch on Day 2, and iv) lower PPTs on Day 4. This article presents a novel experimental human pain model suitable to study the sustained effects of lateral elbow pain on sensorimotor function and to probe the mechanisms underlying persistent musculoskeletal pain.
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 06-2019
DOI: 10.1016/J.MSKSP.2019.01.002
Abstract: This study had the objective of measuring the validity of using a smartphone-based application to measure range of motion (ROM) and quality of movement (QOM) of neck motion by comparing it with 3D-motion capture analysis. Thirty healthy volunteers participated in this cross-sectional study. A helmet fitted with markers for motion capture analysis and a smartphone were fastened to the head of the participants. The smartphone recorded data using a beta version of Balancy (MEDEI, Denmark). Assessments of full active movement in transverse and sagittal planes were performed. Recordings were made simultaneously with the camera system and the smartphone. ROM and jerkiness were compared with a repeated measures ANOVA and a Pearson product moment was calculated to compare the outcomes from the different applications. Bland-Altman plots were generated to determine the levels of agreement. No difference was found between modalities when comparing measurements of jerkiness or ROM. An excellent Pearson product moment was found for the outcomes of the two modalities for ROM (Pearson's r: 0.83 - 0.96) and jerkiness (Pearson's r: 0.86 - 0.95). The Bland-Altman plot revealed a systemic offset where the phone consistently measured higher values for ROM and lower values for jerkiness. This study demonstrated that a smartphone-based application can be used to accurately measure ROM and jerkiness during neck movements. These results indicate the utility of using a smartphone-based application to assess neck movement in humans. The findings have implications for assessment of neck movement in research and clinical practice.
Publisher: Walter de Gruyter GmbH
Date: 07-2016
DOI: 10.1016/J.SJPAIN.2016.05.027
Abstract: Neck pain is frequent and many develop on-going neck pain after the initial onset. Studies on clinical neck pain suggested that altered axioscapular muscle activity may be an important factor in on-going neck pain. This study investigates the effect of bilateral experimental neck pain on axioscapular muscle activity during standardised resisted arm movements. 25 healthy participants were recruited for this single blinded cross-over study. Experimental pain was induced by bilateral injection of hypertonic saline into the splenius capitis muscle. Isotonic saline was used as a control. Pain intensity was recorded using an electronic visual analogue scale (VAS 0-10 cm). Participants performed standardised arm movements, from a seated position, while wearing 1 kg wrist weights. Six arm abduction movements (30° to frontal plane, 3 per side) were performed to an angle of 140°. Each movement consisted of two 3 s phases (up/down) and was separated by a 6 s break, before moving the opposite arm. Surface electromyography (EMG) was recoded from 8 bilateral muscles. Recordings were done before, immediately after, and 5 min after the experimental pain. Root-mean-square (RMS) of the EMG signals were extracted for each muscle and averaged for the 3 trials. Data was compared between sides and no differences were identified after which data was pooled for further analysis. During the painful condition for the slow upward movement, a reduced RMS-EMG activity was found for the ipsilateral upper trapezius (P 0.01). In addition, increased RMS-EMG was found bilaterally for the erector spinae muscle (P 0.01). Bilateral experimental neck reorganise axioscapular and trunk muscle activity during resisted, slow upward movement. The results of this supports previous studies on neck pain patients suggesting neck pain is linked to axioscapular function and underpins the necessity to include the shoulder girdle in assessment and rehabilitation of neck pain patients.
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 06-2015
DOI: 10.1016/J.HUMOV.2015.04.001
Abstract: This study assessed how the low back motor control strategies were affected by experimental pain. In twelve volunteers the right m. longissimus was injected by hypertonic and isotonic (control) saline. The pain intensity was assessed on a visual analog scale (VAS). Subjects were seated on a custom-designed chair including a 3-dimensional force sensor adjusted to the segmental height of T1. Electromyography (EMG) was recorded bilaterally from longissimus, multifidus, rectus abdominis, and external oblique muscles. Isometric trunk extensions were performed before, during, and after the saline injections at 5%, 10%, and 20% of maximum voluntary contraction force. Visual feedback of the extension force was provided whereas the tangential force components were recorded. Compared with isotonic saline, VAS scores were higher following hypertonic saline injections (P<.01). Experimental low back pain reduced the EMG activity bilaterally of the rectus abdominis muscles during contractions at 10% and 20% MVC (P<.01) although force accuracy and tangential force variability was not affected. Increased variability in the tangential force composition was found during pain compared with the non-painful condition (P<.05). The immediate adaptation to pain was sufficient to maintain the quality of the task performance however the long-term consequence of such adaptation is unknown and may overload other structures.
Publisher: Walter de Gruyter GmbH
Date: 25-09-2019
Abstract: Neck pain can impair perception of cervical movement, but how this is affected by attention is unknown. In this study, the effects of experimental neck pain on head repositioning accuracy during standardized head movements were investigated. Experimental neck pain was induced by injecting hypertonic saline into the right splenius capitis muscle in 28 healthy participants (12 women). Isotonic saline was used as control. Participants were blindfolded while performing standardized head movements from neutral (start) to either right-rotation, left-rotation, flexion or extension, then back to neutral (end). Movements were triplicated for each direction, separated by 5-s, and performed with or without a cognitive task at baseline, immediately after the injection, and 5-min after pain disappeared. Repositioning accuracy was assessed by 3-dimensional recordings of head movement and defined as the difference between start and end position. Participants were grouped into most/least accurate based on a median split of head repositioning accuracy for each movement direction at baseline without the cognitive task. The most accurate group got less accurate following hypertonic injection during right-rotation without a cognitive task, compared with the least accurate group and the isotonic condition ( p 0.01). No group difference was found when testing head repositioning accuracy while the participants where distracted by the cognitive task. Experimental neck pain alters head repositioning accuracy in healthy participants, but only in those who are most accurate at baseline. Interestingly, this impairment was no longer present when a cognitive task was added to the head repositioning accuracy test. The results adds to our understanding of what factor may influence the head repositioning accuracy test when used in clinical practice and thereby how the results should be interpreted.
Publisher: Ovid Technologies (Wolters Kluwer Health)
Date: 08-05-2019
DOI: 10.1097/J.PAIN.0000000000001604
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 with corticomotor excitability, in the transition to sustained muscle pain. Twenty-eight healthy in iduals were injected with nerve growth factor into the right extensor carpi radialis brevis muscle on days 0 and 2. Motor adaptation and corticomotor excitability were assessed on day −2, before 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 extensor carpi radialis brevis activity. Pain, muscle soreness, and functional limitation were assessed from days 0 to 14. Pain, muscle soreness, and functional limitation were evident at days 2 and 4 ( P 0.001). Electromyographic 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 in iduals: some displayed increased motor variability, whereas others a decrease. In iduals who displayed an increase in EMG variability after 4 days of pain also displayed an increase in corticomotor excitability ( r = 0.43, P = 0.034). These findings suggest in idual adaptation of the motor system in the transition to sustained pain that could have implications for clinical musculoskeletal pain disorders.
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 10-2016
DOI: 10.1016/J.JPAIN.2016.06.013
Abstract: Musculoskeletal pain is associated with multiple adaptions in movement control. This study aimed to determine whether changes in movement control acquired during acute pain are maintained over days of pain exposure. On day 0, the extensor carpi radialis brevis muscle of healthy participants was injected with nerve growth factor (NGF) to induce persistent movement-evoked pain (n = 13) or isotonic saline as a control (n = 13). On day 2, short-lasting pain was induced by injection of hypertonic saline into extensor carpi radialis brevis muscles of all participants. Three-dimensional force components were recorded during submaximal isometric wrist extensions on day 0, day 4, and before, during, and after saline-induced pain on day 2. Standard deviation (variation of task-related force) and total excursion of center of pressure (variation of force direction) were assessed. Maximal movement-evoked pain was 3.3 ± .4 (0-10 numeric scale) in the NGF-group on day 2 whereas maximum saline-induced pain was 6.8 ± .3 cm (10-cm visual analog scale). The difference in centroid position of force direction relative to day 0 was greater in the NGF group than in the control group (P < .05) on day 2 (before saline-induced pain) and day 4, reflecting changes in tangential force direction used to achieve the task. During saline-induced pain in both groups, tangential and task-related force variation was greater than before and after saline-induced pain (P < .05). Persistent movement-evoked pain changes force direction from the pain-free direction. Acute pain leads to increased variation in force direction irrespective of persistent movement-evoked pain preceding the acutely painful event. These differences provide novel insight into the search for and consolidation of new motor strategies in the presence of pain.
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 08-2023
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 10-2019
Publisher: Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Date: 08-06-2020
DOI: 10.1186/S12877-020-01535-6
Abstract: Accidental falls are common among community-dwellers, probably due to the level of physical activity and impaired postural stability. Today, fall risk prediction tools’ discriminative validity are only moderate. In order to increase the accuracy, multiple variables such as highly validated objective field measurements of physical activity and impaired postural stability should be adressed in order to predict falls. The main aim of this paper is to describe the ≥65 years NOrthern jutland Cohort of Fall risk Assessment with Objective measurements (NOCfao) investigating the association between physical activity and impaired postural stability and the risk of fall episodes among community-dwelling older adults. The study consists of a baseline session where the participants are asked to respond to three questionnaires, perform physical tests (i.e., measuring strength in the upper and lower extremities, balance, and walking speed), participate in an assessment of pain sensitivity, and to wear an ankle mounted pedometer for measuring physical activity for 5 days. Subsequently, the fall incidences and the circumstances surrounding the falls during the previous 1 to 2 months will be recorded throughout a one-year follow-up period. This study will add to the present-day understanding of the association between physical activity and impaired postural stability and the risk of fall episodes among community-dwelling older adults. These data will provide valid and reliable information on the relationship between these variables and their significance for community-dwelling older adults. ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT2995317 . Registered December 13th, 2016.
Publisher: Wiley
Date: 27-08-2017
DOI: 10.1002/EJP.1088
Abstract: Previous studies have indicated that neck pain patients feel increased symptoms following upper limb activities, and altered axioscapular muscle function has been proposed as a contributing factor. Pain sensitivity and muscle activity, during arm movements, were assessed in neck pain patients and controls. Patients with ongoing insidious-onset neck pain (IONP, N = 16) and whiplash-associated disorders (WAD, N = 9) were included along with sex- and age-matched controls (N = 25). Six series of repeated arm abductions were performed during electromyographic (EMG) recordings from eight bilateral muscles. The first and last three series were separated by 8 min and 42 s, respectively. Each series consisted of three slow and three fast movements. Pressure pain thresholds (PPTs) were recorded bilaterally from neck, head and arm at baseline, after the third and sixth movement series. Pain intensity was recorded on an electronic visual analogue scale (VAS). Larger pain areas and higher VAS scores were found in patients compared with controls (p < 0.001), and in patients, the VAS scores increased in the course of movements (p < 0.02). PPTs were lower in patients compared with controls at all sites (p < 0.03), and these decreased during arm movements in the IONP group (p < 0.03), while increasing at head and neck sites in controls (p < 0.04). During the slow movements, increasing serratus anterior EMG activity was found in the series with short breaks in-between for the WAD group compared with IONP and controls (p < 0.001). Axioscapular movement caused different responses in pain sensitivity and muscle activity between neck pain patient groups compared with controls. Neck pain patients report increased symptoms following upper limb activities. This study shows that repeated arm movements caused differentiated responses in pain sensitivity and muscle activity between subgroups of neck pain patient and asymptomatic controls. Such findings may be of great clinical significance when planning rehabilitation for this patient population.
Publisher: Wiley
Date: 11-11-2016
DOI: 10.1002/EJP.972
Abstract: Neck pain is a large clinical problem where reorganized trunk and axioscapular muscle activities have been hypothesised contributing to pain persistence and pain hypersensitivity. This study investigated the effects of bilateral experimental neck pain on trunk and axioscapular muscle function and pain sensitivity. In 25 healthy volunteers, bilateral experimental neck pain was induced in the splenius capitis muscles by hypertonic saline injections. Isotonic saline was used as control. In sitting, subjects performed slow, fast and slow-resisted unilateral arm movements before, during and after injections. Electromyography (EMG) was recorded from eight shoulder and trunk muscles bilaterally. Pressure pain thresholds (PPTs) were assessed bilaterally at the neck, head and arm. Data were normalized to the before-measures. Compared with control and post measurements, experimental neck pain caused (1) decreased EMG activity of the ipsilateral upper trapezius muscles during all but slow-resisted down movements (p < 0.001), and (2) increased EMG activity in the ipsilateral erector spinae muscle during slow and fast movements (p < 0.02), and in the contralateral erector spinae muscle during all but fast up and slow-resisted down movements (p < 0.007). The PPTs in the painful condition increased at the head and arm compared with post measurements and the control condition (p < 0.001). In the post-pain condition, the neck PPT was decreased compared with the control condition (p < 0.001). Acute bilateral neck pain reorganized axioscapular and trunk muscle activity together with local hyperalgesia and widespread hypoalgesia indicating that acute neck pain immediately affects trunk and axioscapular function which may affect both assessment and treatment. Bilateral clinical neck pain alters axioscapular muscle coordination but only effects of unilateral experimental neck pain has been investigated. Bilateral experimental neck pain causes task-dependent reorganized axioscapular and trunk muscle activity in addition to widespread decrease in pressure pain sensitivity.
No related grants have been discovered for Rogério Hirata.