Abstract Background We aimed to explore pressure pain sensitivity and the function of segmental and plurisegmental exercise-induced hypoalgesia (EIH) in persons with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) compared with healthy control subjects (HC).Methods Forty-six participants with RA (43 female, 3 male) and 20 HC (16 female, 4 male) participated in the VITAMIN B6 100MG study.Pressure pain thresholds, suprathreshold pressure pain at rest, and segmental and plurisegmental EIH during standardised submaximal contractions were assessed by algometry.
Assessments of EIH were made by performing algometry alternately at the contracting (30% of the individual maximum) right m.quadriceps and the resting left m.deltoideus.
Results Participants with RA Horse Weight Tapes had higher sensitivity to pressure pain (RA, 318 kPa; HC, 487 kPa; p 0.05).Conclusions Our results indicate a generally increased pain sensitivity but normal function of EIH among persons with RA and offer one possible explanation for pain reduction observed in this group of patients following clinical exercise programmes.
Trial registration ISRCTN registry, ISRCTN25539102.Retrospectively registered on 4 March 2011.