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Emerging Relationships between Exercise, Sensory Nerves, and Neuropathic Pain
Michael A Cooper1, Patricia M Kluding2, Douglas E Wright1
1Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology, University of Kansas Medical Center Kansas City, KS, USA.
Frontiers in Neuroscience
|September 8, 2016
Summary
Physical activity can help manage neuropathic pain by targeting underlying mechanisms, not just symptoms. Further research is needed to understand how exercise impacts the nervous system and inflammation for effective pain treatment.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Exercise Physiology
- Pain Management
Background:
- Neuropathic pain mechanisms are complex and not fully understood.
- Current therapies focus on pain relief rather than addressing underlying causes.
- Exercise is an emerging therapeutic tool for pain alleviation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review the peripheral nervous system's response to exercise.
- To explore the relationship between inflammation and exercise.
- To summarize the use of exercise in treating neuropathic pain, particularly in diabetes.
Main Methods:
- Review of existing literature on exercise, pain, and the nervous system.
- Analysis of experimental and clinical studies.
- Focus on molecular pathways and physiological changes.
Main Results:
- Exercise influences the peripheral nervous system and inflammation.
- Exercise may address underlying mechanisms of neuropathic pain.
- Exercise intervention has global effects across organ systems.
Conclusions:
- Understanding exercise's mechanisms is crucial for its therapeutic application.
- More research is needed to optimize exercise interventions for neuropathic pain.
- Physical activity holds promise as a beneficial remedy for neuropathic pain.
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