title: Pressure pain sensitivity mapping in experimentally induced lateral epicondylalgia.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this study was to apply topographical techniques to investigate changes in pressure pain sensitivity after induction of delayed onset muscle soreness (DOMS) in the elbow region in healthy subjects.
  
  
  METHODS
  Pressure pain thresholds (PPT) were assessed over 12 points forming a 3 x 4 matrix (4 points in the superior part, 4 points in the middle, and 4 points in the lower part around the lateral epicondyle) over the dominant elbow in 13 healthy men, and pressure sensitivity maps were calculated. DOMS, as a model for lateral epicondylalgia (LE), was induced by repetitive high-level eccentric contractions of the wrist extensor muscles. PPT maps were assessed before, immediately after, and 24 h after eccentric exercise (DOMS).
  
  
  RESULTS
  The two-way repeated-measure ANOVA detected significant differences in mean PPT for the measurement points (F = 5.96, P < 0.001), with lower PPT over the points located over the extensor carpi radialis brevis muscle. There was also a significant effect of time (F = 121.3, P < 0.001) but no time x point location interaction (F = 0.7, P = 0.8). PPT were lower 24 h after (P < 0.001) but not immediately after (P > 0.05) eccentric exercise.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The study provides new key information regarding mechanical pain hyperalgesia in experimentally induced LE. Topographical pressure pain sensitivity maps from the elbow region revealed heterogeneously distributed mechanical sensitivity before and during DOMS. The most sensitive localizations for PPT assessment correspond to the muscle belly of the extensor carpi radialis brevis. Our results support the implication of the extensor carpi radialis brevis muscle in LE.
authors.affiliation: Department of Health Science and Technology, Center for Sensory-Motor Interaction, Aalborg University, Aalborg, Denmark.
authors.forename: Josué
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Fernández-Carnero
authors.forename: Asbjørn T
authors.initials: AT
authors.lastname: Binderup
authors.forename: Hong-You
authors.initials: HY
authors.lastname: Ge
authors.forename: César
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Fernández-de-las-Peñas
authors.forename: Lars
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Arendt-Nielsen
authors.forename: Pascal
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Madeleine
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D012090:Cumulative Trauma Disorders / Q000209:etiology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D018482:Muscle, Skeletal / Q000293:injuries / Q000503:physiopathology; D010147:Pain Measurement / Q000379:methods*; D017288:Pain Threshold / Q000502:physiology*; D011312:Pressure; D013716:Tennis Elbow / Q000209:etiology*; D055815:Young Adult