Effect of experimentally induced muscle pain on neuromuscular control of force production

Manoela Vieira Sousa; Márcio Goethel; Klaus M Becker; Fernando Diefenthaeler; Ricardo J Fernandes; Isabella de Santana Toro Batista; João Paulo Vilas-Boas; Ulysses Ervilha

doi:10.1016/j.humov.2024.103219

Effect of experimentally induced muscle pain on neuromuscular control of force production

Hum Mov Sci. 2024 Apr 17:95:103219. doi: 10.1016/j.humov.2024.103219. Online ahead of print.

Authors

Manoela Vieira Sousa¹, Márcio Goethel², Klaus M Becker², Fernando Diefenthaeler³, Ricardo J Fernandes², Isabella de Santana Toro Batista⁴, João Paulo Vilas-Boas², Ulysses Ervilha⁵

Affiliations

¹ Porto Biomechanics Laboratory, University of Porto, Porto 4200-450, Portugal; Center of Research, Education, Innovation and Intervention in Sport, Faculty of Sport, University of Porto, Porto 4200-450, Portugal. Electronic address: manoelavsousa@fade.up.pt.
² Porto Biomechanics Laboratory, University of Porto, Porto 4200-450, Portugal; Center of Research, Education, Innovation and Intervention in Sport, Faculty of Sport, University of Porto, Porto 4200-450, Portugal.
³ Biomechanics Laboratory, Federal University of Santa Catarina, Florianópolis 88040-900, Brazil.
⁴ Laboratory of Physical Activity Sciences, School of Arts, Sciences, and Humanities, University of São Paulo, 03828-000 São Paulo, Brazil.
⁵ Center of Research, Education, Innovation and Intervention in Sport, Faculty of Sport, University of Porto, Porto 4200-450, Portugal; Laboratory of Physical Activity Sciences, School of Arts, Sciences, and Humanities, University of São Paulo, 03828-000 São Paulo, Brazil.

PMID: 38636393
DOI: 10.1016/j.humov.2024.103219

Abstract

Purpose: Neural and peripheral effects of induced muscle pain on explosive force production were investigated.

Methods: Nine participants performed two maximal, six explosive, and six electrical stimulations induced (twitches and octets) isometric knee extensions before and after (15 min of rest) receiving an intramuscular injection of hypertonic saline (pain inducer) or isotonic (placebo) infusions in two laboratory visits separated by 7 days.

Results: It was observed a reduction of peak torque production in maximal voluntary contraction in both conditions (9.3 and 3.3% for pain and placebo, respectively) and in the rate of torque development in placebo (7%). There was an increase in the rate of torque development for twitch and octets (10.5 and 15.8%, respectively) in the pain condition and peak torque for twitch (12%) in both conditions (as did the total rate of torque development for octets).

Conclusion: Force production decreases and increases during voluntary and involuntary contractions, respectively, suggesting that acute pain impairs force production via central mechanisms.

Keywords: Electrical stimulation; Electromyography; Experimental pain; Rate of force development.