Neural mechanisms of exercise-induced hypoalgesia and exercise therapy for chronic pain

2017 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 15K01399
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (C)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Section: 一般
• Research Field: Rehabilitation science/Welfare engineering
• Research Institution: Nihon Fukushi University
• Principal Investigator: MATSUBARA Takako 日本福祉大学, 健康科学部, 教授 (30294234)
• Research Collaborator: SHIRO Yukiko 名古屋学院大学, リハビリテーション学部, 准教授 (30440663)
• Project Period (FY): 2015-04-01 – 2018-03-31
• Keywords: 疼痛緩和・鎮痛 / 運動 / 慢性痛 / 運動イメージ / リハビリテーション

Outline of Final Research Achievements

The aim of this study was to clarify the effects of physical exercise and motor imagery on pain sensitivity/central sensitization and mood. A single bout of low-intensity exercise reduced pain sensitivity, and repetitive exercise reduced pain sensitivity for 2 weeks and central sensitization for 3 weeks. Motor imagery also resulted in hypoalgesia, as in actual exercise. Prolonged exercise for 2 hours increased elation at first and sedation later, although there was no change in pain sensitivity following exercise. These findings suggest that repetitive exercise for more than 3 weeks could activate the central pain modulation system responsible for exercise-induced hypoalgesia, prior to the improvement of subjective pain symptoms in chronic pain conditions.

Free Research Field

疼痛学