Abstract
Since returning from the Persian Gulf, nearly 100,000 veterans of the first Gulf War
(GVs) have reported numerous symptoms with no apparent medical explanation. A primary
complaint of these individuals is chronic musculoskeletal pain (CMP). CMP symptoms
in GVs are similar to those reported by patients with fibromyalgia (FM), but have
not received equivalent scientific attention. Exercise research in CMP patients suggests
that acute exercise may exacerbate pain while chronic exercise can reduce pain and
improve other symptoms. However, the influence of exercise on GVs with CMP is largely
unexplored. This study examined the impact of an acute bout of exercise on pain sensitivity
in GVs with CMP. Thirty-two GVs (CMP, n = 15; Control, n = 17) were recruited to complete
a series of psychophysical assessments to determine pain sensitivity to heat and pressure
stimuli before and after exercise. In response to heat-pain stimuli, GVs with CMP
reported higher pain intensity and affect ratings than healthy GVs and exhibited a
significant increase in ratings following exercise. GVs with CMP rated exercise as
more painful and effortful and were generally more sensitive to heat-pain stimuli
than healthy GVs. These results are similar to what has been reported for acute exercise
in patients with FM.
Perspective
Gulf War veterans with CMP perceive exercise as more painful and effortful than healthy
GVs and experience increased pain sensitivity following exercise. These results suggest
that similar abnormalities in central nervous system processing of nociceptive information
documented in FM may also be occurring in GVs with CMP.
Key words
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Article info
Publication history
Published online: March 25, 2010
Accepted:
November 17,
2009
Received in revised form:
October 15,
2009
Received:
July 2,
2009
Footnotes
Supported by the Office of Research and Development, VA Central Office, Department of Veterans Affairs (Grant #561-00215).
Identification
Copyright
Published by Elsevier Inc.
