Slowing in Peak-Alpha Frequency Recorded After Experimentally-Induced Muscle Pain is not Significantly Different Between High and Low Pain-Sensitive Subjects

Enrico De Martino; Luisina Gregoret; Matteo Zandalasini; Thomas Graven-Nielsen

doi:10.1016/j.jpain.2021.06.004

Slowing in Peak-Alpha Frequency Recorded After Experimentally-Induced Muscle Pain is not Significantly Different Between High and Low Pain-Sensitive Subjects

J Pain. 2021 Dec;22(12):1722-1732. doi: 10.1016/j.jpain.2021.06.004. Epub 2021 Jun 26.

Authors

Enrico De Martino¹, Luisina Gregoret², Matteo Zandalasini³, Thomas Graven-Nielsen⁴

Affiliations

¹ Center for Neuroplasticity and Pain (CNAP), Department of Health Science and Technology, Faculty of Medicine, Aalborg University, Aalborg, Denmark; Aerospace Medicine and Rehabilitation Laboratory, Department of Sport, Exercise & Rehabilitation, Faculty of Health and Life Sciences, Northumbria University, Newcastle upon Tyne, United Kingdom.
² Center for Neuroplasticity and Pain (CNAP), Department of Health Science and Technology, Faculty of Medicine, Aalborg University, Aalborg, Denmark.
³ Center for Neuroplasticity and Pain (CNAP), Department of Health Science and Technology, Faculty of Medicine, Aalborg University, Aalborg, Denmark; Department of Spinal Unit and Intensive Rehabilitation Medicine. A.U.S.L. Piacenza, Italy.
⁴ Center for Neuroplasticity and Pain (CNAP), Department of Health Science and Technology, Faculty of Medicine, Aalborg University, Aalborg, Denmark. Electronic address: tgn@hst.aau.dk.

PMID: 34182105
DOI: 10.1016/j.jpain.2021.06.004

Abstract

Peak alpha frequency (PAF) reduces during cutaneous pain, but no studies have investigated PAF during movement-related muscle pain. Whether high-pain sensitive (HPS) individuals exhibit a more pronounced PAF response to pain than low-pain sensitive (LPS) individuals is unclear. As a pain model, twenty-four participants received nerve growth factor injections into a wrist extensor muscle at Day 0, Day 2, and Day 4. At Day 4, a subgroup of twelve participants also undertook eccentric wrist exercise to induce additional pain. Pain numerical rating scale (NRS) scores and electroencephalography were recorded at Day 0 (before injection), Day 4, and Day 6 for 3 minutes (eyes closed) with wrist at rest (Resting-state) and extension (Contraction-state). The average pain NRS scores in contraction-state across Days were used to divide participants into HPS (NRS-scores≥2) and LPS groups. PAF was calculated by frequency decomposition of electroencephalographic recordings. Compared with Day 0, contraction NRS-scores only increased in HPS-group at Day 4 and Day 6 (P < .001). PAF in Contraction-state decreased in both groups at Day 6 compared with Day 0 (P = .011). Across days, HPS-group showed faster PAF than LPS-group during Resting-state and Contraction-state (P < .04). Average pain NRS-scores across days during Contraction-states correlated with PAF at Day 0 (P = .012). Pain NRS-scores were associated with PAF during Contraction-state at Day 4 and Day 6 (P < .05). PERSPECTIVE: PAF was slowed during long-lasting movement-related pain in both groups, suggesting a widespread change in cortical excitability independent of the pain sensitivity. Moreover, HPS individuals showed faster PAF than LPS individuals during muscle pain, which may reflect a different cognitive, emotional, or attentional response to muscle pain among individuals.

Keywords: Prolonged hyperalgesia; electroencephalography; muscle soreness; nerve-growth factor; oscillations.

Publication types

Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

Adult
Alpha Rhythm / physiology*
Cerebral Cortex / physiopathology*
Electroencephalography
Female
Humans
Hyperalgesia / physiopathology*
Injections, Intramuscular
Male
Myalgia / chemically induced
Myalgia / physiopathology*
Nerve Growth Factor / administration & dosage
Pain Measurement
Pain Threshold / physiology*
Young Adult

Substances

Nerve Growth Factor