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Updated: Jul 9, 2026
09:38
Determining Pain Detection and Tolerance Thresholds Using an Integrated, Multi-Modal Pain Task Battery
Published on: April 14, 2016
Contralateral Thermal Pain and Naturally Occurring Muscle Pain Have Different Effects on Force Production During a
Callum A O'Malley1,2,3, Thomas Mangin2,3,4, Maxime Bergevin2,3,4
1Department of Public Health and Sport Sciences, University of Exeter, Exeter, UK.
European Journal of Pain (London, England)
|July 8, 2026
Summary
Contralateral thermal pain boosts force production during fixed perceived effort tasks, while muscle pain reduces it. This highlights pain-type dependent effects on motor control during exercise.
Area of Science:
- Exercise Physiology
- Neuroscience
- Pain Research
Background:
- Pain can maintain motor task performance by increasing perceived effort.
- The influence of different pain types on force production during fixed perceived effort tasks remains unclear.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate how contralateral thermal pain and muscle pain affect force production during a fixed perceived effort task.
- To compare the effects of experimentally induced pain versus naturally occurring pain on motor performance.
Main Methods:
- Forty participants performed isometric handgrip contractions at varying perceived effort levels.
- Contralateral thermal pain and a non-painful warm stimulus were applied in a controlled experimental design.
- Force production, electromyography, and pain ratings were continuously recorded.
Main Results:
- Force production was significantly higher during thermal pain compared to the control condition.
- Muscle pain was negatively correlated with peak force, mean force, and force integral.
- No interaction was observed between pain condition and perceived effort intensity.
Conclusions:
- Contralateral thermal pain enhances force production in a fixed perceived effort task.
- Muscle pain is associated with decreased force output, challenging the notion of a universal inhibitory effect of pain.
- Findings suggest pain-type dependent modulation of motor control, with implications for exercise and rehabilitation.
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