The journal of pain : official journal of the American Pain Society
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Randomized Controlled Trial
PAIN-INDUCED REDUCTION IN CORTICOMOTOR EXCITABILITY IS COUNTERACTED BY COMBINED ACTION-OBSERVATION AND MOTOR IMAGERY.
Musculoskeletal pain reduces corticomotor excitability (CE) and methods modulating such CE reduction remain elusive. This study aimed to modulate pain-induced CE reduction by performing action observation and motor imagery (AOMI) during experimental muscle pain. Twelve healthy participants participated in 3 cross-over and randomized sessions separated by 1 week. ⋯ Pain intensity was similar between the AOMI+PAIN and PAIN sessions (P = .71). This study, which may be considered a pilot, demonstrated the counteracting effects of AOMI on pain-induced decreases in CE and warrants further studies in a larger population. PERSPECTIVE: This is the first study to demonstrate a method counteracting the reduction in CE associated with acute pain and advances therapeutic possibilities for individuals with chronic musculoskeletal pain.