ArticleBMJ neurology open2023
Muscle spindles as pain receptors.
Article in BMJ neurology open, 2023. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 3 papers.
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The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.
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Who cites it
3 citing papers in PubMed, 5 citations in OpenAlex.
- [Effectiveness Analysis of Cervical Rotation-Traction Manipulation on Cervical and Dorsal Muscle Tone in Patients With Cervical Spondylotic Radiculopathy].Sichuan da xue xue bao. Yi xue ban = Journal of Sichuan University. Medical science edition · 2026Article
- Medial Pterygoid Muscles Penetration by Tubero-Pterygoid Implants: Clinical, Anatomical and Statistical Insights Regarding Temporo-Mandibular Disorders (TMDs).Life (Basel, Switzerland) · 2026Article
- Co-expression of MyHC-15 with other known isoforms in rat muscle spindles.European journal of histochemistry : EJH · 2025Article
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Authors and funding
3 authors at 2 institutions in 1 country.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
Background: Muscle membranes have a sensation of pain, but within the muscle tissue, the origin of pain is unclear. We present a hypothesis that the pain receptors of the muscle tissue are situated principally in the muscle spindles. A recent report reintroduced that 'end plate spikes' in needle electromyography (EMG) are fusimotor unit potentials of the intrafusal muscle fibres, and thus represent a marker of muscle spindles. Methods: We studied four relaxed muscles with 50 EMG needle insertions in each and mapped the appearance of pain and spontaneous EMG activity. Results: Only 4.0% of the needle insertions in muscle tissue elicited pain. However, needle insertions in local active points showing 'end plate spikes' and, thus, fusimotor unit potentials of the muscle spindles elicited pain in 86% of the insertions, whereas needle insertions in points without 'end plate spikes' elicited pain in only 1.0% of the insertions (p<0.001). Conclusions: Muscle spindles have pain receptors. The extrafusal muscle tissue is practically pain-free for the needle insertions. This demonstrates a scarcity of extrafusal pain receptors. How this observation is put into perspective with the muscle pain syndromes was discussed.
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