TY - JOUR
T1 - Experimental pain in the groin may refer into the lower abdomen
T2 - Implications to clinical assessments
AU - Drew, M. K.
AU - Palsson, T. S.
AU - Hirata, R. P.
AU - Izumi, M.
AU - Lovell, G.
AU - Welvaert, M.
AU - Chiarelli, P.
AU - Osmotherly, P. G.
AU - Graven-Nielsen, T.
PY - 2017/10
Y1 - 2017/10
N2 - Objectives To investigate the effects of experimental adductor pain on the pain referral pattern, mechanical sensitivity and muscle activity during common clinical tests. Design Repeated-measures design. Methods In two separate sessions, 15 healthy males received a hypertonic (painful) and isotonic (control) saline injection to either the adductor longus (AL) tendon to produce experimental groin pain or into the rectus femoris (RF) tendon as a painful control. Pain intensity was recorded on a visual analogue scale (VAS) with pain distribution indicated on body maps. Pressure pain thresholds (PPT) were assessed bilaterally in the groin area. Electromyography (EMG) of relevant muscles was recorded during six provocation tests. PPT and EMG assessment were measured before, during and after experimental pain. Results Hypertonic saline induced higher VAS scores than isotonic saline (p < 0.001), and a local pain distribution in 80% of participants. A proximal pain referral to the lower abdominal region in 33% (AL) and 7% (RF) of participants. Experimental pain (AL and RF) did not significantly alter PPT values or the EMG amplitude in groin or trunk muscles during provocation tests when forces were matched with baseline. Conclusions This study demonstrates that AL tendon pain was distributed locally in the majority of participants but may refer to the lower abdomen. Experimental adductor pain did not significantly alter the mechanical sensitivity or muscle activity patterns.
AB - Objectives To investigate the effects of experimental adductor pain on the pain referral pattern, mechanical sensitivity and muscle activity during common clinical tests. Design Repeated-measures design. Methods In two separate sessions, 15 healthy males received a hypertonic (painful) and isotonic (control) saline injection to either the adductor longus (AL) tendon to produce experimental groin pain or into the rectus femoris (RF) tendon as a painful control. Pain intensity was recorded on a visual analogue scale (VAS) with pain distribution indicated on body maps. Pressure pain thresholds (PPT) were assessed bilaterally in the groin area. Electromyography (EMG) of relevant muscles was recorded during six provocation tests. PPT and EMG assessment were measured before, during and after experimental pain. Results Hypertonic saline induced higher VAS scores than isotonic saline (p < 0.001), and a local pain distribution in 80% of participants. A proximal pain referral to the lower abdominal region in 33% (AL) and 7% (RF) of participants. Experimental pain (AL and RF) did not significantly alter PPT values or the EMG amplitude in groin or trunk muscles during provocation tests when forces were matched with baseline. Conclusions This study demonstrates that AL tendon pain was distributed locally in the majority of participants but may refer to the lower abdomen. Experimental adductor pain did not significantly alter the mechanical sensitivity or muscle activity patterns.
KW - Adductor longus tendon
KW - Athlete
KW - EMG
KW - Pressure pain sensitivity
KW - Rectus femoris tendon
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85019638910&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - http://www.mendeley.com/research/experimental-pain-groin-refer-lower-abdomen-implications-clinical-assessments
U2 - 10.1016/j.jsams.2017.04.007
DO - 10.1016/j.jsams.2017.04.007
M3 - Article
SN - 1440-2440
VL - 20
SP - 904
EP - 909
JO - Journal of Science and Medicine in Sport
JF - Journal of Science and Medicine in Sport
IS - 10
ER -