title: The effect of chronic low back pain on tactile suppression during back movements.
abstract: The aim of the present study was to examine whether tactile suppression, the phenomenon whereby tactile perception is suppressed during movement, would occur in the context of back movements. Of particular interest, it was investigated if tactile suppression in the back would be attenuated in those suffering from chronic low back pain. Individuals with chronic low back pain (N = 30) and a matched control group (N = 24) detected tactile stimuli on three possible locations (back, arm, chest) while performing a back or arm movement, or no movement. We hypothesized that the movements would induce tactile suppression, and that this effect would be largest for low-intense stimuli on the moving body part. We further hypothesized that, during back movements, tactile suppression on the back would be less pronounced in the chronic low back pain group than in the control group. The results showed the expected general tactile suppression effects. The hypothesis of back-specific attenuation of tactile suppression in the chronic low back pain group was not supported. However, back-specific tactile suppression in the chronic low back pain group was less pronounced in those who performed the back movements more slowly.
authors.affiliation: Ghent University, Department of Experimental-Clinical and Health Psychology, Henri Dunantlaan 2, 9000 Ghent, Belgium. Electronic address: Stefaan.Vandamme@UGent.be.
authors.forename: Stefaan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Van Damme
authors.affiliation: Ghent University, Department of Experimental-Clinical and Health Psychology, Henri Dunantlaan 2, 9000 Ghent, Belgium.
authors.forename: Lore
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Van Hulle
authors.affiliation: Ghent University, Department of Rehabilitation Sciences and Physiotherapy, De Pintelaan 185, 9000 Ghent, Belgium.
authors.forename: Lieven
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Danneels
authors.affiliation: University of Oxford, Department of Experimental Psychology, 9 South Parks Road, Oxford OX1 3UD, UK.
authors.forename: Charles
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Spence
authors.affiliation: Ghent University, Department of Experimental-Clinical and Health Psychology, Henri Dunantlaan 2, 9000 Ghent, Belgium.
authors.forename: Geert
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Crombez
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001415:Back / Q000502:physiology; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D059350:Chronic Pain / Q000628:therapy*; D003071:Cognition; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D017116:Low Back Pain / Q000628:therapy*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009048:Motor Skills; D009068:Movement; D011597:Psychomotor Performance; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014110:Touch; D055698:Touch Perception; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Attention; Back pain; Cognitive processes; Motor processes; Sensory perception