Somaesthetic disturbances in fibromyalgia are exaggerated by sensory
motor conflict: implications for chronicity of the disease?
Rheumatology (Oxford). 2007 Sep 1; [Epub ahead of print]
McCabe CS, Cohen H, Blake DR.
The Royal National Hospital for Rheumatic Diseases in conjunction
with The School for Health, University of Bath, Bath BA1 1RL, UK.
Objectives. Conflict between sensory-motor central nervous processing
generates somaesthetic disturbances, including pain, in healthy
volunteers (HVs). Such conflict has been proposed as a potential
cause of pain that occurs in the absence of injury or when the pain
response is disproportionate to the injury. Fibromyalgia (FMS)
exemplifies the former state. We hypothesized that the artificial
generation of such conflict would exacerbate somaesthetic perceptions
including pain in FMS greater than in HVs.
Methods. Twenty-nine adults with FMS took part in an established task
that generates varied degrees of sensory-motor conflict during
congruent/incongruent limb movements. A qualitative methodology
recorded any changes in sensory experience. Data generated were
compared with age and gender-matched HV data.
Results. Twenty-six subjects (89.7%) with FMS reported changes in
sensory perception at some stage in the protocol in addition to, or
worse than, baseline compared with 14 (48%) of HVs. All stages of the
protocol generated a higher frequency of report in the FMS population
than that of the maximum report in the HVs population. New
perceptions included disorientation, pain, perceived changes in
temperature, limb weight or body image.
Conclusions. Our findings support the hypothesis that motor-sensory
conflict can exacerbate pain and sensory perceptions in those with
FMS to a greater extent than in HVs.
motor conflict: implications for chronicity of the disease?
Rheumatology (Oxford). 2007 Sep 1; [Epub ahead of print]
McCabe CS, Cohen H, Blake DR.
The Royal National Hospital for Rheumatic Diseases in conjunction
with The School for Health, University of Bath, Bath BA1 1RL, UK.
Objectives. Conflict between sensory-motor central nervous processing
generates somaesthetic disturbances, including pain, in healthy
volunteers (HVs). Such conflict has been proposed as a potential
cause of pain that occurs in the absence of injury or when the pain
response is disproportionate to the injury. Fibromyalgia (FMS)
exemplifies the former state. We hypothesized that the artificial
generation of such conflict would exacerbate somaesthetic perceptions
including pain in FMS greater than in HVs.
Methods. Twenty-nine adults with FMS took part in an established task
that generates varied degrees of sensory-motor conflict during
congruent/incongruent limb movements. A qualitative methodology
recorded any changes in sensory experience. Data generated were
compared with age and gender-matched HV data.
Results. Twenty-six subjects (89.7%) with FMS reported changes in
sensory perception at some stage in the protocol in addition to, or
worse than, baseline compared with 14 (48%) of HVs. All stages of the
protocol generated a higher frequency of report in the FMS population
than that of the maximum report in the HVs population. New
perceptions included disorientation, pain, perceived changes in
temperature, limb weight or body image.
Conclusions. Our findings support the hypothesis that motor-sensory
conflict can exacerbate pain and sensory perceptions in those with
FMS to a greater extent than in HVs.
PMID: 17767000
