Article

Most persons living with a spinal cord injury experience neuropathic pain in the
months following their lesion, at the moment where they receive intensive gait
rehabilitation. Based on studies using animal models, it has been proposed that
central sensitization in nociceptive pathways (maladaptive plasticity) and
plasticity related to motor learning (adaptive plasticity) share common neural
mechanisms and compete with each other.
This article aims to address the
discrepancy between the growing body of basic science literature supporting this
hypothesis and the general belief in rehabilitation research that pain and gait
rehabilitation represent two independent problems. First,
the main findings from
basic research showing interactions between nociception and learning in the
spinal cord will be summarized, focusing both on evidence demonstrating the
impact of nociception on motor learning and of motor learning on central
sensitization. Then, the generalizability of these findings in animal models to
humans will be discussed. Finally, the way potential interactions between
nociception and motor learning are currently taken into account in clinical
research in patients with spinal cord injury will be presented. To conclude, recommendations will be proposed to better integrate findings from basic research
into future clinical research in persons with spinal cord injury.

Langue : ANGLAIS