ArticlePhysical therapy2010
Aerobic exercise alters analgesia and neurotrophin-3 synthesis in an animal model of chronic widespread pain.
Article in Physical therapy, 2010. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 33 papers, 1 of them a synthesis that pooled it.
What it found
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Who cites it
33 citing papers in PubMed, 1 synthesis or guideline pooled it, 74 citations in OpenAlex.
- Effectiveness of Manual Therapy and Therapeutic Exercise for Temporomandibular Disorders: Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.Physical therapy · 2016Pooled it
- Beneficial Effects of Exercise in Neuropathic Pain: An Overview of the Mechanisms Involved.Pain research & management · 2025Review
- Article
- Article
- RNA sequencing on muscle biopsy from a 5-week bed rest study reveals the effect of exercise and potential interactions with dorsal root ganglion neurons.Physiological reports · 2022Article
- Fibromyalgia: Pathogenesis, Mechanisms, Diagnosis and Treatment Options Update.International journal of molecular sciences · 2021Review
- Acute Effects of a Brief Physical Exercise Intervention on Somatosensory Perception, Lumbar Strength, and Flexibility in Patients with Nonspecific Chronic Low-Back Pain.Journal of pain research · 2021Article
- Moderate Physical Exercise Activates ATRFrontiers in physiology · 2021Article
- Saffron (Reports of biochemistry & molecular biology · 2021Article
- Descending motor circuitry required for NT-3 mediated locomotor recovery after spinal cord injury in mice.Nature communications · 2019Article
- A Subgroup of Chronic Low Back Pain Patients With Central Sensitization.The Clinical journal of pain · 2019Article
- Article
- The Impact of Exercise in Rodent Models of Chronic Pain.Current osteoporosis reports · 2018Review
- A Mechanism-Based Approach to Physical Therapist Management of Pain.Physical therapy · 2018Review
- Exercise-induced increase in brain-derived neurotrophic factor in human Parkinson's disease: a systematic review and meta-analysis.Translational neurodegeneration · 2018Review
- Article
- Modest Amounts of Voluntary Exercise Reduce Pain- and Stress-Related Outcomes in a Rat Model of Persistent Hind Limb Inflammation.The journal of pain · 2017Article
- Neurobiology of fibromyalgia and chronic widespread pain.Neuroscience · 2016Review
- Article
- Emerging Relationships between Exercise, Sensory Nerves, and Neuropathic Pain.Frontiers in neuroscience · 2016Review
Corrections and comments
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Authors and funding
4 authors at 2 institutions in 1 country.
Funding
Abstract
backgroundPresent literature and clinical practice provide strong support for the use of aerobic exercise in reducing pain and improving function for individuals with chronic musculoskeletal pain syndromes. However, the molecular basis for the positive actions of exercise remains poorly understood. Recent studies suggest that neurotrophin-3 (NT-3) may act in an analgesic fashion in various pain states.
objectiveThe purpose of the present study was to examine the effects of moderate-intensity aerobic exercise on pain-like behavior and NT-3 in an animal model of widespread pain.
designThis was a repeated-measures, observational cross-sectional study.
methodsForty female mice were injected with either normal (pH 7.2; n=20) or acidic (pH 4.0; n=20) saline in the gastrocnemius muscle to induce widespread hyperalgesia and exercised for 3 weeks. Cutaneous (von Frey monofilament) and muscular (forceps compression) mechanical sensitivity were assessed. Neurotrophin-3 was quantified in 2 hind-limb skeletal muscles for both messenger RNA (mRNA) and protein levels after exercise training. Data were analyzed with 2-factor analysis of variance for repeated measures (group x time).
resultsModerate-intensity aerobic exercise reduced cutaneous and deep tissue hyperalgesia induced by acidic saline and stimulated NT-3 synthesis in skeletal muscle. The increase in NT-3 was more pronounced at the protein level compared with mRNA expression. In addition, the increase in NT-3 protein was significant in the gastrocnemius muscle but not in the soleus muscle, suggesting that exercise can preferentially target NT-3 synthesis in specific muscle types. LIMITATIONS: Results are limited to animal models and cannot be generalized to chronic pain syndromes in humans.
conclusionsThis is the first study demonstrating the effect of exercise on deep tissue mechanical hyperalgesia in a rodent model of pain and providing a possible molecular basis for exercise training in reducing muscular pain.
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Registered trials
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