Evidence map›Paper›PMID 39731029›Full record

ArticleBMC musculoskeletal disorders2024

Impact of electrical muscle stimulation-induced muscle contractions on endogenous pain modulatory system: a quantitative sensory testing evaluation.

Satoshi Ohga, Takafumi Hattori, Kazuhiro Shimo, Hajime Maeda, Takako Matsubara

Abstract read
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In one paragraph

Article in BMC musculoskeletal disorders, 2024. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 4 papers, 1 of them a synthesis that pooled it.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
4citing papers in PubMed, 1 pooled it
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

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.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

4 citing papers in PubMed, 1 synthesis or guideline pooled it.

  1. Pooled it
  2. Trial
  3. Article
  4. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

5 authors.

Satoshi OhgaFaculty of Rehabilitation, Kobe Gakuin University, 518 Arise, Ikawadani-cho, Nishi-ku, Kobe, Hyogo, 651-2180, Japan. ohga@reha.kobegakuin.ac.jp.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0001-6802-7726
Takafumi HattoriFaculty of Rehabilitation, Kobe Gakuin University, 518 Arise, Ikawadani-cho, Nishi-ku, Kobe, Hyogo, 651-2180, Japan.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-8885-2560
Kazuhiro ShimoFaculty of Rehabilitation, Kobe Gakuin University, 518 Arise, Ikawadani-cho, Nishi-ku, Kobe, Hyogo, 651-2180, Japan.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-8575-6186
Hajime MaedaFaculty of Rehabilitation, Kobe Gakuin University Graduate School, 518 Arise, Ikawadani-cho, Nishi-ku, Kobe, Hyogo, 651-2180, Japan.
Takako MatsubaraFaculty of Rehabilitation, Kobe Gakuin University, 518 Arise, Ikawadani-cho, Nishi-ku, Kobe, Hyogo, 651-2180, Japan.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-8849-3596

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundExercise-induced hypoalgesia (EIH) is characterized by a reduction in pain perception and sensitivity across both exercising and non-exercising body parts during and after a single bout of exercise. EIH is mediated through central and peripheral mechanisms; however, the specific effect of muscle contraction alone on EIH remains unclear. Moreover, previous studies on electrical muscle stimulation (EMS) have primarily focused on local analgesic effects, often relying on subjective pain reports. This study investigated the contribution of EMS-induced muscle contractions to systemic analgesia, independent of motor cortex activity. We aimed to explore the underlying mechanisms of EIH by analyzing the influence of skeletal muscle mass (SMM), skeletal muscle mass index (SMI), and conditioned pain modulation (CPM).

methodsIn this crossover study, 27 healthy young adults participated in EMS and sham interventions, separated by a washout period of 2 to 3 days. SMM, SMI, and CPM were measured before the first intervention. Pressure pain thresholds (PPT) were evaluated before and after each intervention. EMS was applied to the non-dominant quadriceps at a frequency of 30 Hz, a pulse duration of 300 μs, and a duty cycle of 5 s on and 10 s off, without inducing joint movement, for 20 min. The sham intervention used the same settings, but the stimulation amplitude was insufficient to induce muscle contraction in the quadriceps. The average current intensity was 16.0 ± 3.2 mA and 11.3 ± 2.3 mA in the EMS and sham condition, respectively.

resultsIn the EMS condition, PPT significantly increased in the stimulated quadriceps but not in non-contracted sites. There were strong positive correlations between changes in PPT and both SMM and SMI, but not CPM. The sham condition showed no significant effects at any assessment sites.

conclusionsThese findings suggest that the analgesic effects of EMS-induced muscle contractions are primarily localized to the stimulated muscle tissues, rather than mediated by the central pain modulatory mechanisms.

trial registrationThis study was enrolled in the UMIN-CTR Clinical Trial Registry (registration number: UMIN000051951; date of approval: August 19, 2023).

Indexed as

Cross-Over StudiesMuscle ContractionPain ThresholdAdultElectric StimulationExerciseFemaleHealthy VolunteersHumansMaleMuscle, SkeletalPain MeasurementPain PerceptionQuadriceps MuscleYoung AdultConditioned pain modulationElectrical muscle stimulationExercise-induced hypoalgesiaPressure pain thresholdSkeletal muscle mass

Identifiers

PMID39731029
PMCPMC11673366

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Registered trials

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.