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Nociceptive Threshold and Physical Activity

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  18 September 2015

Régis Guieu ,
Olivier Blin ,
Jean Pouget  and
Georges Serratrice
Régis Guieu*
Affiliation:
Clinique des maladies neuromusculaire et de l’appareil locomoteur, Marseille, France
Olivier Blin*
Affiliation:
Clinique des maladies neuromusculaire et de l’appareil locomoteur, Marseille, France
Jean Pouget*
Affiliation:
Clinique des maladies neuromusculaire et de l’appareil locomoteur, Marseille, France
Georges Serratrice*
Affiliation:
Clinique des maladies neuromusculaire et de l’appareil locomoteur, Marseille, France
*
Clinique des maladies neuromusculaire et de l’appareil locomoteur, Chu Timone, Avenue de l’armée d’Afrique 13385 Marseille Cedex 5, France
Clinique des maladies neuromusculaire et de l’appareil locomoteur, Chu Timone, Avenue de l’armée d’Afrique 13385 Marseille Cedex 5, France
Clinique des maladies neuromusculaire et de l’appareil locomoteur, Chu Timone, Avenue de l’armée d’Afrique 13385 Marseille Cedex 5, France
Clinique des maladies neuromusculaire et de l’appareil locomoteur, Chu Timone, Avenue de l’armée d’Afrique 13385 Marseille Cedex 5, France
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Abstract:

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Previous studies using subjective tools to measure pain have shown that muscle exercise can have analgesic effects in man. The nociceptive leg flexion reflex (or RIII reflex) is a useful objective tool for assessing human pain. In this study, the pain threshold was assessed using the nociceptive flexion reflex in six high-level athletes 1) at rest in comparison with 8 control subjects and 2) after exercise requiring the production of a 200-Watt force over a period of 20 minutes. The nociceptive flexion reflex threshold at rest was found to be spontaneously higher in the athletes than in the controls. Physical activity resulted in a significant increase (+53%) in the threshold of the nociceptive reflex in the athletes. The role of stress-induced analgesia, the reduction in perceived intensity of stimuli during movement, and the release of opioids are discussed.

Type
Articles
Information
Canadian Journal of Neurological Sciences , Volume 19 , Issue 1 , February 1992 , pp. 69 - 71
Copyright
Copyright © Canadian Neurological Sciences Federation 1992

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