April 19, 2009
Many patients with chronic pain complain of coolness of their skin and here is the scientific basis for these complaints which involve skin circulation.
This study investigated the effect of painful stimulation of latent myofascial trigger points (MTrPs) on skin blood flow and to evaluate the relative sensitivity of laser Doppler flowmetry and thermography in the measurement of skin blood flow. Painful stimulation was obtained by a bolus injection of glutamate (0.1mL, 0.5M) into a latent MTrP located in the right or left brachioradialis muscles. A bolus of glutamate injection into a non-MTrP served as control.
Pain intensity (visual analog scale was assessed after glutamate injection. Pressure pain threshold was recorded bilaterally in the brachioradialis muscle before and after glutamate-induced pain. Skin blood flow and surface skin temperature were measured bilaterally in the forearms before, during, and after glutamate-induced pain with laser Doppler flowmetry and thermography.
The present study demonstrated an attenuated skin blood flow response after painful stimulation of latent MTrPs compared with non-MTrPs, suggesting increased sympathetic vasoconstriction activity at latent MTrPs. Additionally, laser Doppler flowmetry was more sensitive than thermography in the detection of the changes in skin blood flow after intramuscular nociceptive stimulation. (Zhang Y, Ge HY, Yue SW, Kimura Y, Arendt-Nielsen L: Attenuated skin blood flow response to nociceptive stimulation of latent myofascial trigger points. Archives of Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation. 90(2):325-32, 2009).
www.stopmusclepain.com
cool skin,
muscle pain,
pain,
skin circulation,
trigger points
April 19, 2009
Many patients with chronic pain complain of coolness of their skin and here is the scientific basis for these complaints which involve skin circulation.
This study investigated the effect of painful stimulation of latent myofascial trigger points (MTrPs) on skin blood flow and to evaluate the relative sensitivity of laser Doppler flowmetry and thermography in the measurement of skin blood flow. Painful stimulation was obtained by a bolus injection of glutamate (0.1mL, 0.5M) into a latent MTrP located in the right or left brachioradialis muscles. A bolus of glutamate injection into a non-MTrP served as control.
Pain intensity (visual analog scale was assessed after glutamate injection. Pressure pain threshold was recorded bilaterally in the brachioradialis muscle before and after glutamate-induced pain. Skin blood flow and surface skin temperature were measured bilaterally in the forearms before, during, and after glutamate-induced pain with laser Doppler flowmetry and thermography.
The present study demonstrated an attenuated skin blood flow response after painful stimulation of latent MTrPs compared with non-MTrPs, suggesting increased sympathetic vasoconstriction activity at latent MTrPs. Additionally, laser Doppler flowmetry was more sensitive than thermography in the detection of the changes in skin blood flow after intramuscular nociceptive stimulation. (Zhang Y, Ge HY, Yue SW, Kimura Y, Arendt-Nielsen L: Attenuated skin blood flow response to nociceptive stimulation of latent myofascial trigger points. Archives of Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation. 90(2):325-32, 2009).
www.stopmusclepain.com
cool skin, muscle pain, pain, skin circulation, trigger points