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Related Experiment Videos

Experimental muscle pain increases the human stretch reflex

D A Matre1, T Sinkjaer, P Svensson

  • 1Center for Sensory-Motor Interaction, Aalborg University, Denmark. dagfinn.matre@stami.no

Pain
|May 16, 1998
PubMed
Summary

Human experimental muscle pain increases stretch reflex responses, indicating heightened muscle spindle sensitivity. However, the H-reflex and alpha-motoneurone pool excitability remained unchanged, suggesting specific neural adaptations during pain.

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Area of Science:

  • Neuroscience
  • Human Physiology
  • Pain Research

Background:

  • Muscle pain can alter motor control and reflex responses.
  • Muscle spindle sensitivity is a key factor in proprioception and motor output.
  • Understanding reflex changes during pain is crucial for rehabilitation and performance.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the effects of experimental muscle pain on H-reflex and stretch reflex amplitudes.
  • To assess changes in muscle spindle sensitivity during induced muscle pain.
  • To explore the underlying neural mechanisms, including alpha-motoneurone excitability.

Main Methods:

  • Healthy male volunteers underwent experimental muscle pain induced by hypertonic saline infusion in the soleus and tibialis anterior muscles.

Related Experiment Videos

  • H-reflex and mechanical stretch reflexes were measured in the soleus muscle under relaxed and active conditions.
  • Surface electromyograms (EMG) and ankle torque were recorded to quantify reflex responses.

    • Main Results:

    • Muscle pain significantly increased the mechanical stretch reflex response (ankle torque) in both soleus and tibialis anterior muscles.
    • EMG responses also significantly increased with pain in the tibialis anterior muscle.
    • No significant changes were observed in the H-reflex amplitude during muscle pain.

    Conclusions:

    • Experimental muscle pain enhances stretch reflex amplitude, suggesting increased dynamic sensitivity of muscle spindles.
    • The unchanged H-reflex indicates that alpha-motoneurone pool excitability was not significantly affected.
    • Findings do not support the vicious cycle model of muscle pain and motor control.