The Effect of Experimental Neck Pain in Healthy Participants

The Effect of Experimental Neck Pain in Healthy Participants - The Transition From Acute to Ongoing Pain

This study investigates if/how an experimentally applied muscle pain/soreness, lasting for some days may affect brain activity, balance, movement patterns, muscle function and pain sensitivity in a healthy population

All included healthy volunteers will participate in test-sessions on 4 separate days over approximately 2 weeks.

During the study participants will be randomised into and either a control group (injection of isotonic saline into a neck muscle) or neck pain group (injection of Nerve Growth Factor (NGF) into a neck muscle).

Alle participants tested with regards to:

Brain activity related to neck muscles will be estimated using TMS Balance will be tested using a force place Body movements will be recorded using 3D tracking Muscle activity will be estimated using electromyography (EMG)

Inclusion Criteria:

• Healthy men and women aged 18-50 years
• Only for sub-projects 1 and 2: Right-handed
• Able to speak, read and understand Danish and English

Exclusion Criteria:

• Pain from the neck or shoulder area during the past 6 months
• Experience of delayed onset muscle soreness (DOMS) during the week leading up to the test session
• Former surgery in neck or shoulder
• Current or previous chronic or recurrent pain condition
• Pregnancy
• Drug addiction defined as the use of cannabis, opioids or other drugs
• Previous neurologic, musculoskeletal or mental illnesses
• Regular use of analgesics
• Abnormally disrupted sleep in the last 24 hours preceding the experiment
• Lack of ability to cooperate
• Unable to pass the TASS safety screening questionnaire for TMS