Human and animal models for the study of muscle pain

Abstract

Muscle pain typically results from engaging in novel or unaccustomed levels of muscle activity. It may also result from a sharp blow or other direct trauma. Typically this type of pain resolves over a few days. However, several clinical conditions are associated with muscle pain that may range in severity from an intermittent but recurring distraction, to a debilitating disorder lasting for months that is accompanied by severe stress and in some cases significant motor impairment. The cost of medical treatment and lost work productivity runs in the billions of dollars, yet little is known about the etiology of chronic muscle pain. This chapter will explore how experimental approaches have been used in an effort to model clinical pain in humans and in experimental animals, and provide practical information regarding the implementation, interpretation, and limitations of these methods. Parallels between human and animal experiments will be emphasized. © 2008 Humana Press Inc.