Dose response of isometric contractions on pain perception in healthy adults. Med Sci Sports Exerc 2008 Nov;40(11):1880-9
Date
10/11/2008Pubmed ID
18845975DOI
10.1249/MSS.0b013e31817eeeccScopus ID
2-s2.0-60249084109 (requires institutional sign-in at Scopus site) 139 CitationsAbstract
INTRODUCTION: The purpose of the study was to compare pain ratings and thresholds in men and women before and after isometric contractions of varying intensity and duration performed with the elbow flexor muscles.
METHODS: Pain perception was assessed, using a pressure device applied to the contralateral finger, before and after the following isometric contractions: 1) three brief maximal voluntary contractions (MVC), 2) 25% MVC sustained until task failure, 3) 25% MVC sustained for 2 min, and 4) 80% MVC sustained until task failure.
RESULTS: High-intensity and long-duration, low-intensity isometric contractions produced an analgesic response. The greatest change in pain threshold and pain ratings, when pressure was applied to the contralateral finger, was after the long-duration, low-intensity contraction sustained until failure. Sex differences were present with women reporting 1) lower pain thresholds and higher pain ratings during quiet rest and 2) higher pain ratings before and after isometric contractions.
CONCLUSION: These results suggest that activation of high-threshold motor units is involved in exercise-induced analgesia.
Author List
Hoeger Bement MK, Dicapo J, Rasiarmos R, Hunter SKAuthor
Marie Hoeger Bement MPT,PhD Associate Professor in the Physical Therapy department at Marquette UniversityMESH terms used to index this publication - Major topics in bold
AdolescentAdult
Analgesia
Elbow
Female
Humans
Isometric Contraction
Male
Monitoring, Physiologic
Muscle, Skeletal
Pain Threshold
Sex Factors
Young Adult
