title: Movement restriction does not modulate sensory and perceptual effects of exercise-induced arm pain.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Movement restriction has been proposed as an important modulator of changes in sensory and perceptual function and motor imagery performance that are observed in musculoskeletal pain syndromes. There are no empirical data to support this view.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The primary objective of this experiment was to determine the effects of movement restriction on local and widespread sensory, perceptual and motor imagery changes after exercise-induced muscular pain. Further objectives were to investigate whether changes in sensory perception are correlated with pain intensity and tactile acuity or motor imagery performance.
  
  
  METHODS
  In forty healthy volunteers, delayed onset muscle soreness (DOMS) of the non-dominant elbow flexors was induced using eccentric contractions until exhaustion. Participants were then randomised into two groups: a movement restriction group (wearing a sling) or a control group (not wearing a sling). Sensory and perceptual functions were measured using a range of sensory tests and a motor imagery performance task (left/right limb judgements).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Movement restriction did not modulate any of the measures. We found concurrent mechanical hypoesthesia (p < 0.01), reduced tactile acuity (p = 0.02) and pressure hyperalgesia (p < 0.01) at the painful side. We found evidence of widespread pressure hyperalgesia. Impaired tactile acuity was associated with a decrease in pain threshold to pressure (r = -0.34, p = 0.03). Motor imagery performance was unchanged (p > 0.35) by pain or movement restriction.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Short-term movement restriction did not influence local and widespread sensory changes induced by experimentally induced muscular pain.
authors.affiliation: Neuroscience Research Australia, PO Box 1165, Randwick, NSW, 2031, Australia, m.huebscher@neura.edu.au.
authors.forename: Markus
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Hübscher
authors.forename: Simon
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Tu
authors.forename: Tasha
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Stanton
authors.forename: G Lorimer
authors.initials: GL
authors.lastname: Moseley
authors.forename: Benedict M
authors.initials: BM
authors.lastname: Wand
authors.forename: John
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Booth
authors.forename: James H
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: McAuley
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001132:Arm / Q000503:physiopathology; D015444:Exercise / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007103:Immobilization / Q000502:physiology*; D007537:Isometric Contraction / Q000502:physiology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D063806:Myalgia / Q000503:physiopathology*; D010147:Pain Measurement; D058748:Pain Perception / Q000502:physiology*; D017288:Pain Threshold; D055815:Young Adult