Direction Matters: A Crossover Study on Motor Adaptations to Movement-Evoked Pain Induced in the Lumbar Region.

ABSTRACT:

Background

People with chronic low back pain (LBP) often experience pain evoked by movement (movement-evoked pain [MEP]). Although pain changes how people move, it remains unclear whether motor adaptations to LBP are specific to the pain-provocative movement. This crossover experimental study aimed to understand whether pain modulated by movement in different directions induces distinct motor adaptations, and if these adaptations are consistent with a purposeful strategy to minimise pain.

Methods

Thirty healthy adults performed a repetitive box lifting task in two experimental sessions. Experimental pain was induced in the lumbosacral region using nociceptive electrical stimulation, with intensity modulated proportionally to either lumbar flexion or extension. Within-subject

SUBMITTER: Devecchi V 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12501826 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Nov

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature