The relationship between sustained hamstring pain and reorganisation of somatosensory representations: a randomised, controlled study.

Recurrent hamstring injuries are highly prevalent amongst sporting populations. It has been hypothesised that pain from an initial hamstring injury may induce reorganisation of somatosensory representations that could contribute to reinjury. However, because of the cross-sectional nature of existing research, it remains unknown whether somatosensory changes are a cause or effect of pain or if they are driven by other potentially confounding factors.

Investigating interindividual variability in corticomotor reorganization during sustained hamstring pain: A randomized experimental study.

Background: Increasing evidence suggests that pain drives maladaptive corticomotor changes that may increase susceptibility to injury and promote symptom recurrence. However, few studies have evaluated the influence of interindividual corticomotor responses to musculoskeletal pain. Existing research in this area has also been limited largely to the upper limb.

The Effect of Theta Burst Stimulation Over the Primary Motor Cortex on Experimental Hamstring Pain: A Randomized, Controlled Study.

Theta burst stimulation (TBS) over the primary motor cortex (M1) is an emerging technique that may have utility in the treatment of musculoskeletal pain. However, previous work exploring the analgesic effects of noninvasive brain stimulation has been limited largely to the arm or hand, despite 80% of acute musculoskeletal injuries occurring in the lower limb. This is a pertinent point, given the functional and neurophysiological differences between upper and lower limb musculature, as well as evidence suggesting that reorganization of corticomotor pathways is region-specific.