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 non-invasive 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 reorganisation of corticomotor pathways is region-specific. This study investigated the effect of excitatory TBS on pain, function, and corticomotor organisation during experimentally-induced lower limb pain. Twenty-eight healthy participants attended two experimental sessions. On Day 0, participants completed 10 sets of 10 maximal eccentric contractions of the right hamstring muscles to induce delayed onset muscle soreness. Four consecutive blocks of either active or sham TBS were delivered on Day 2. Measures of mechanical sensitivity, pain (muscle soreness, pain intensity, pain area) function (single-leg hop distance, maximum voluntary isometric contraction, lower extremity functional scale), and corticomotor organisation were recorded before and after TBS on Day 2. Pain and function were also assessed daily from Days 2-10. Active TBS reduced mechanical sensitivity compared to sham stimulation (p = 0.01). Corticomotor organisation did not differ between groups, suggesting that improvements in mechanical sensitivity were not mediated by changes in M1. Subjective reports of pain intensity and function did not change following active TBS, contrasting previous reports in studies of the upper limb. Perspective: M1 TBS reduces mechanical sensitivity associated with experimentally-induced hamstring pain. Though further work is needed, these findings may hold important implications for those seeking to expedite recovery or reduce muscle sensitivity following hamstring injury.
Copyright © 2022. Published by Elsevier Inc.

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