Article

Physical therapists frequently use joint mobilization therapy
techniques to treat people with musculoskeletal dysfunction and pain. Several
studies suggest that endogenous adenosine may act in an analgesic fashion in
various pain states. The purpose of this study was to investigate the
contribution of the adenosinergic system on the antihyperalgesic effect of ankle
joint mobilization (AJM). This was a experimental study. METHODS: To test
the hypothesis that the adrenosinergic system is involved in the antihyperalgesic
effect of AJM, mice (25-35 g) submitted to plantar incision surgery were used as
a model of acute postoperative pain. The mice were subjected to AJM for 9
minutes. Withdrawal frequency to mechanical stimuli was assessed 24 hours after
plantar incision surgery and 30 minutes after AJM, adenosine, clonidine, or
morphine treatments. The adenosinergic system was assessed by systemic
(intraperitoneal), central (intrathecal), and peripheral (intraplantar)
administration of caffeine. The participation of the A1 receptor was investigated
using a selective adenosine A1 receptor subtype antagonist. In addition, previous
data on the involvement of the serotonergic and noradrenergic systems in the
antihyperalgesic effect of AJM were confirmed. RESULTS: Ankle joint mobilization
decreased mechanical hyperalgesia, and this effect was reversed by pretreatment
of the animals with caffeine given by intraperitoneal, intraplantar, and
intrathecal routes. In addition, intraplanar and intrathecal administrations of
1,3-dipropyl-8-cyclopentylxanthine (DPCPX, a selective adenosine A1 subtype
receptor antagonist) or systemic administration of yohimbine or
rho-chlorophenylalanine methyl ester hydrochloride (PCPA) blocked the
antihyperalgesia induced by AJM. LIMITATIONS: The results are limited to animal
models and cannot be generalized to acute pain in humans. CONCLUSIONS: This study
demonstrated the involvement of the adenosinergic system in the antihyperalgesic
effect of AJM in a rodent model of pain and provides a possible mechanism basis
for AJM-induced relief of acute pain.

Langue : ANGLAIS