A Potential Objective Sign of Central Sensitization: Referred Pain Elicited by Manual Gluteus Minimus Muscle Exploration is Coincident with Pathological Autonomic Response Provoked by Noxious Stimulation

<div>MATLAB trends of the SP test® results depend on the latent trigger points presence and the SP test® phase: (a) median value, (b) average value, and (c) Mann–Whitney <i>U</i> test results. The LTrPs subjects presented abnormal autonomic activity that was confirmed by amplified vasodilatation. The MATLAB trends showed the development of the percentage size of amplified vasodilatation spreading in the lower leg in time. The significant difference between both groups stabilized around 2′ of the noxious stimulation, but in 4′ the size of the amplified vasodilatation had a tendency to an intensive increase. The control showed stable thermal fluctuations during the whole procedure.</div>

Pain Research and Management

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Figure 4: A Potential Objective Sign of Central Sensitization: Referred Pain Elicited by Manual Gluteus Minimus Muscle Exploration is Coincident with Pathological Autonomic Response Provoked by Noxious Stimulation 

Figure 4 | A Potential Objective Sign of Central Sensitization: Referred Pain Elicited by Manual Gluteus Minimus Muscle Exploration is Coincident with Pathological Autonomic Response Provoked by Noxious Stimulation 