661: Manifestation of experimentally induced central sensitization in highly trained athletes.

Topic: Experimental (Non-clinical) Human Studies
Subtopic: Non -specific to any diagnosis, Gender/sex differences, Physiotherapy (e.g. exercise, rehab), Pain models (e.g. saline injection, capsaicin, UVB, HFS, incision, exercise, itch)

Background and Aims: Athletes, compared with non-athletes, exhibit higher pain threshold and tolerance (Thornton et al., 2024). The susceptibility to develop central sensitization (CS) – defined as an "increased responsiveness of nociceptive neurons in the central nervous system" (IASP) has not been studied in this population. Here, we aimed to compare secondary hyperalgesia (SH), a manifestation of CS (Leone et al., 2024), elicited experimentally in volunteers grouped according to their level of regular physical activity (elite, intermediate and sedentary).

Methods: Two groups of female rugby players (12 elite, 12 intermediate) and three groups of volunteers of both genders practicing endurance sports (26 elite [12 females], 26 intermediate [13 females], 26 sedentary [12 females]) were included. We investigated mechanical pinprick sensitivity (MPS; Visual Analog Scale 0-100) and the area of SH induced by high frequency electrical stimulation (HFS) of the volar forearm skin. Measurements were obtained before HFS, and 20, 30, and 35 minutes after HFS in rugby players, and 10, 20, 30, and 50 minutes after HFS in endurance participants.

Results: After HFS, a similar increase in MPS was observed in elite and intermediate rugby women. The area of SH was significantly smaller in the elite rugby women group compared to the intermediate. MPS and area of SH were similar between endurance elite, intermediate and sedentary participants, and no gender-related differences were detected.

Conclusions: Highly trained women in a contact sport exhibit a reduced susceptibility to develop experimentally induced CS. This effect may be specifically associated with the practice of a contact sport implying repeated nociceptive stimulations as this effect was not observed in female or male endurance athletes.

References: Leone, C., Lenoir, C., & Van Den Broeke, E. N. (2024). Assessing signs of central sensitization : A critical review of physiological measures in experimentally induced secondary hyperalgesia.
Terminology | International Association for the Study of Pain. (s. d.). International Association for the Study of Pain (IASP). Consulté 11 octobre 2023, à l’adresse https://www.iasp-pain.org/resources/terminology/
Thornton, C., Baird, A., & Sheffield, D. (2024). Athletes and Experimental Pain : A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. The Journal of Pain, 25(6), 104450. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jpain.2023.12.007

Presenting Author: Vladimir Aron
Submitting Author: Vladimir Aron

Senior Author: Cédric Lenoir

IASP 2026 Global Year theme of Neuropathic Pain: No

• Vladimir Aron: Msc, PT - UCLouvain
• André Mouraux: Prof., PhD, MD - UCLouvain
• Cédric Lenoir: Msc, PhD, PT - UCLouvain
• Quentin Verwacht: MD - CHU HELORA, Groupe Jolimont, Belgium.