Publications by authors named "Nathanial R Eckert"
Background: Ankle sprains are a commonly occurring musculoskeletal injury potentially resulting in persistent pain and/or altered motion. Thrust manipulation may serve as an interventional strategy but limited evidence exists on the mechanism(s) by which a change to symptoms might occur.
Objective: The study sought to quantify the immediate effect of a thrust manipulation to the ankle to determine a mechanism by which change to symptoms occurred.
A single pulse of high intensity electrical current delivered to the digits of the hand during voluntary contractions produces a period of decreased electromyographic (EMG) activity, known as a cutaneous silent period (CSP) (Caccia and Violini, 1973; Inghilleri et al., 1997; Uncini et al., 1991).
View Article and Find Full Text PDFThe cutaneous silent period is an inhibitory evoked response that demonstrates a wide variety of responses in muscles of the human upper limb. Classically, the cutaneous silent period results in a characteristic muscle pattern of extensor inhibition and flexor facilitation within the upper limb, in the presence of nociceptive input. The aims of the current study were: 1) to primarily investigate the presence and characteristics of the cutaneous silent period response across multiple extensor and flexor muscles of the upper limb, and 2) to secondarily investigate the influence of stimulation site on this nociceptive reflex response.
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- Temporal summation of second pain (TSSP) reflects how pain intensity may increase with repeated stimulation of nociceptors, showing greater enhancement in certain conditions.
- Low-frequency stimulation of unmyelinated nociceptors led to varying rates of pain summation depending on the method used, with intermittent contact showing significant increases in pain compared to ramp and hold methods.
- The study's findings advocate for re-evaluating pain testing techniques in clinical settings, as the ramp and hold method may not accurately represent pain summation levels.
Article Synopsis
- The study assesses how first (A-fiber) and second (C-fiber) pain sensations differ in human skin types (glabrous vs. hairy).
- Results indicate that first pain has a lower threshold (more sensitive) than second pain for both skin types, with glabrous skin requiring a higher threshold than hairy skin.
- This research provides a new approach to compare pain sensations, which can help in understanding pain abnormalities and developing better treatments for pain conditions.
The silent period induced by cutaneous electrical stimulation of the digits has been shown to be task-dependent, at least in the grasping muscles of the hand. However, it is unknown if the cutaneous silent period is adaptable throughout muscles of the entire upper limb, in particular when the task requirements are substantially altered. The purpose of the present study was to examine the characteristics of the cutaneous silent period in several upper limb muscles when introducing increased whole-body instability.
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