pain


Aerobic exercise reduces pressure pain more than heat pain in healthy adults 2

Exercise-induced hypoalgesia is a reduction in pain that occurs during or following a single bout of exercise (Naugle et al, 2012). When researchers test exercise-induced hypoalgesia, they briefly induce painful stimuli to research participants to see if pain sensitivity changes after exercise. Different types of painful stimuli have been used […]


Motor Impairment on an international stage

On November 26, some of the finest minds in medical science will meet in Sydney, Australia to discuss the latest  research on motor impairments – the diseases or health conditions that disrupt function of the human motor system (brain, nerves, and muscles) and cause physical disability. The event that will […]


Motor Impairment Blog’s most popular posts

Over the past 4.5 years, researchers from all over the world have written non-technical summaries on their research for the Motor Impairment Blog. Consequently, the Blog contains a rich archive of information on topics such as muscle strength and weakness, falls and balance, sensation, pain, motor control, and research methods. […]


Treatment options for musculoskeletal pain: an overview of current evidence 2

Musculoskeletal pain is the most common cause of disability globally (Vos et al. 2013). It is managed in primary care by a plethora of treatment options, such as self-management advice and education, analgesics, corticosteroid injections, exercise therapy, complementary therapies, and psychosocial interventions. Research suggests that localised musculoskeletal pain frequently coexists in more […]


Exercise reduces pain through a peripheral mechanism in healthy adults 1

In healthy adults, it is well demonstrated that a single bout of exercise can acutely reduce pain (Naugle et al., 2012), a phenomenon known as exercise-induced hypoalgesia. However, the mechanisms of pain reduction after exercise are not clear. The methods commonly used to study pain responses after exercise in humans […]


Do fitter people experience less pain?

Regular exercise is well demonstrated to relieve pain in people with chronic pain (Busch et al, 2007) but exactly how exercise helps is not known. A growing body of evidence shows people with chronic pain who are fitter and more physically active experience less pain. Similar associations are apparent in […]


More pain, less gain: Can painful, fatiguing exercise of one muscle impair the exercise performance of its neighbours?

We have all experienced the effects of muscle fatigue. Whether carrying groceries or luggage that extra bit further, playing sport or hitting it hard at the gym. For people with conditions such as multiple sclerosis, congestive heart failure, or peripheral vascular disease just going to collect the mail can be […]


Aerobic exercise training increases pain tolerance

It is well demonstrated that a single bout of exercise can cause short-term reductions in pain, a phenomenon referred to as exercise-induced hypoalgesia (EIH) (Naugle et al. 2012). However, the effect of chronic exercise training on pain is less clear, as are the mechanisms that mediate EIH. A greater understanding […]


Radiography of a wrist fracture

Who gets Complex Regional Pain Syndrome?

Complex regional pain syndrome (CRPS) is a disabling condition that causes motor impairment. It is common after wrist fracture. Little is known about the epidemiology of CRPS and there has been very little research into prevention and treatment of CRPS. We sought to (a) determine the incidence of CRPS, and […]