Details

Autor(en) / Beteiligte

• Moukhaiber, Nadia
• Summers, Simon J
• Opar, David
• Imam, Jawwad
• Thomson, Daniel
• Chang, Wei-Ju
• Andary, Toni
• Cavaleri, Rocco

Titel

The Effect of Theta Burst Stimulation Over the Primary Motor Cortex on Experimental Hamstring Pain: A Randomized, Controlled Study

Ist Teil von

• The journal of pain, 2023-04, Vol.24 (4), p.593-604

Ort / Verlag

United States: Elsevier Inc

Erscheinungsjahr

2023

Quelle

MEDLINE

Beschreibungen/Notizen

• •Active theta burst stimulation (TBS) reduces hamstring mechanical sensitivity compared to sham.•TBS did not influence corticomotor organisation.•Pain intensity and function did not change following TBS, contrasting reports in the upper limb. Theta burst stimulation (TBS) over the primary motor cortex (M1) is an emerging technique that may have utility in the treatment of musculoskeletal pain. However, previous work exploring the analgesic effects of noninvasive brain stimulation has been limited largely to the arm or hand, despite 80% of acute musculoskeletal injuries occurring in the lower limb. This is a pertinent point, given the functional and neurophysiological differences between upper and lower limb musculature, as well as evidence suggesting that reorganization of corticomotor pathways is region-specific. This study investigated the effect of excitatory TBS on pain, function, and corticomotor organization during experimentally induced lower limb pain. Twenty-eight healthy participants attended 2 experimental sessions. On Day 0, participants completed 10 sets of 10 maximal eccentric contractions of the right hamstring muscles to induce delayed onset muscle soreness. Four consecutive blocks of either active or sham TBS were delivered on Day 2. Measures of mechanical sensitivity, pain (muscle soreness, pain intensity, pain area) function (single-leg hop distance, maximum voluntary isometric contraction, lower extremity functional scale), and corticomotor organization were recorded before and after TBS on Day 2. Pain and function were also assessed daily from Days 2 to 10. Active TBS reduced mechanical sensitivity compared to sham stimulation (P = .01). Corticomotor organization did not differ between groups, suggesting that improvements in mechanical sensitivity were not mediated by changes in M1. Subjective reports of pain intensity and function did not change following active TBS, contrasting previous reports in studies of the upper limb. M1 TBS reduces mechanical sensitivity associated with experimentally induced hamstring pain. Though further work is needed, these findings may hold important implications for those seeking to expedite recovery or reduce muscle sensitivity following hamstring injury.