Sensorimotor discordance is the mismatch between one's motor intentions and sensory feedback.Experiences such as heaviness and discomfort have been reported during this time, which may influence pain.Dr. Soichiro Matsuda (Ph.D. candidate) and Associate Professor Michihiro Osumi of Kio University conducted a study on patients with musculoskeletal pain and found that the heaviness caused by sensorimotor inconsistency affects the prolongation of pain. clarified.
Immobilization in a cast immediately after a fracture or tissue injury has been reported to cause abnormal body perception, such as "I can't believe it's my own hand" and "I feel a sense of discomfort and discomfort in my hand."This is attributed to a sensorimotor discrepancy in which one's motor intentions and sensory feedback do not match.This can cause, for example, strangeness, discomfort, or heaviness.However, the effect of abnormal body perception due to sensorimotor mismatch on pain prognosis was unclear.
Therefore, this time, we conducted an experimental task to induce sensorimotor discordance in patients with musculoskeletal pain.The first experiment was performed within 2 months after trauma or surgery, and then 1 weeks later and 2 weeks later, a total of 4 times.As a result, the abnormal perceptions that were likely to be caused by the inconsistent condition were pain, dullness, and strangeness.The study found that initial pain intensity was not associated with prognosis, but heaviness experienced in the discordant condition predicted pain at 3 and 2 weeks.This suggests that among the abnormal body perceptions, the experience of heaviness affects pain.
In the future, it will be necessary to perform more detailed evaluations, including the motor functions of patients with musculoskeletal pain, and to verify the effects of abnormal perception caused by sensorimotor mismatch.
Paper information:[Pain Research and Management] Perception of Heaviness Induced by Sensorimotor Incongruence Is Associated with Pain Prognosis: A Pilot Study