Exercise training augments brain function and reduces pain perception in adults with chronic pain: A systematic review of intervention studies
Introduction: Chronic pain (CP) is a leading cause of disability worldwide. Pain may be measured using subjective questionnaires, but understanding the underlying physiology, such as brain function, could improve prognosis. Further, there has been a shift towards cost-effective lifestyle modificatio...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Elsevier
2023-01-01
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| Series: | Neurobiology of Pain |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2452073X23000168 |
| _version_ | 1797818627537240064 |
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| author | Kierstyn L. Palmer Madeline E. Shivgulam Anne Sophie Champod Brian C. Wilson Myles W. O'Brien Nick W. Bray |
| author_facet | Kierstyn L. Palmer Madeline E. Shivgulam Anne Sophie Champod Brian C. Wilson Myles W. O'Brien Nick W. Bray |
| author_sort | Kierstyn L. Palmer |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Introduction: Chronic pain (CP) is a leading cause of disability worldwide. Pain may be measured using subjective questionnaires, but understanding the underlying physiology, such as brain function, could improve prognosis. Further, there has been a shift towards cost-effective lifestyle modification for the management of CP. Methods: We conducted a systematic review (Registration: #CRD42022331870) using articles retrieved from four databases (Pubmed, EMBASE, AMED, and CINAHL) to assess the effect of exercise on brain function and pain perception/quality of life in adults with CP. Results: Our search yielded 1879 articles; after exclusion, ten were included in the final review. Study participants were diagnosed with either osteoarthritis or fibromyalgia. However, two studies included “fibromyalgia and low back pain” or “fibromyalgia, back, and complex regional pain.” Exercise interventions that were 12 weeks or longer (n = 8/10) altered brain function and improved pain and/or quality of life outcomes. The cortico-limbic pathway, default-mode network, and dorsolateral prefrontal cortex were key regions that experienced alterations post-intervention. All studies that reported an improvement in brain function also demonstrated an improvement in pain perception and/or quality of life. Discussion: Our review suggests that alterations in brain function, notably the cortico-limbic, default-mode and dorsolateral prefrontal cortex, may be responsible for the downstream improvements in the subjective experience of CP. Through appropriate programming (i.e., length of intervention), exercise may represent a viable option to manage CP via its positive influence on brain health. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-13T09:10:45Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-2bc9f6b1fe2f471eb5b9cbf9ea4e1b62 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2452-073X |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-13T09:10:45Z |
| publishDate | 2023-01-01 |
| publisher | Elsevier |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Neurobiology of Pain |
| spelling | doaj.art-2bc9f6b1fe2f471eb5b9cbf9ea4e1b622023-05-27T04:26:21ZengElsevierNeurobiology of Pain2452-073X2023-01-0113100129Exercise training augments brain function and reduces pain perception in adults with chronic pain: A systematic review of intervention studiesKierstyn L. Palmer0Madeline E. Shivgulam1Anne Sophie Champod2Brian C. Wilson3Myles W. O'Brien4Nick W. Bray5School of Health and Exercise Sciences, University of British Columbia Okanagan, Kelowna, V1V 1V7, CanadaDivision of Kinesiology, Dalhousie University, Halifax, Nova Scotia, B3H 3J5, CanadaDept. of Psychology, Acadia University, Wolfville, Nova Scotia, B4P 2R6, CanadaDepartment of Biology, Acadia University, Wolfville, Nova Scotia, B4P 2R6, CanadaSchool of Physiotherapy (Faculty of Health) and Department of Medicine, Dalhousie University, Halifax, Nova Scotia, B3H 3J5, CanadaCumming School of Medicine, Dept. of Physiology & Pharmacology, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, T2N 4N1, Canada; Hotchkiss Brain Institute, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, T2N 1N4, Canada; Corresponding author at: Lab of Human Cerebrovascular Physiology, MR Neuroimaging Lab, Heritage Medical Research Building, Room HMRB 128, Calgary, AB N6C 0A7, Canada.Introduction: Chronic pain (CP) is a leading cause of disability worldwide. Pain may be measured using subjective questionnaires, but understanding the underlying physiology, such as brain function, could improve prognosis. Further, there has been a shift towards cost-effective lifestyle modification for the management of CP. Methods: We conducted a systematic review (Registration: #CRD42022331870) using articles retrieved from four databases (Pubmed, EMBASE, AMED, and CINAHL) to assess the effect of exercise on brain function and pain perception/quality of life in adults with CP. Results: Our search yielded 1879 articles; after exclusion, ten were included in the final review. Study participants were diagnosed with either osteoarthritis or fibromyalgia. However, two studies included “fibromyalgia and low back pain” or “fibromyalgia, back, and complex regional pain.” Exercise interventions that were 12 weeks or longer (n = 8/10) altered brain function and improved pain and/or quality of life outcomes. The cortico-limbic pathway, default-mode network, and dorsolateral prefrontal cortex were key regions that experienced alterations post-intervention. All studies that reported an improvement in brain function also demonstrated an improvement in pain perception and/or quality of life. Discussion: Our review suggests that alterations in brain function, notably the cortico-limbic, default-mode and dorsolateral prefrontal cortex, may be responsible for the downstream improvements in the subjective experience of CP. Through appropriate programming (i.e., length of intervention), exercise may represent a viable option to manage CP via its positive influence on brain health.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2452073X23000168Physical activityPain inhibitionFunctional neuroimagingSubjective pain measurement |
| spellingShingle | Kierstyn L. Palmer Madeline E. Shivgulam Anne Sophie Champod Brian C. Wilson Myles W. O'Brien Nick W. Bray Exercise training augments brain function and reduces pain perception in adults with chronic pain: A systematic review of intervention studies Neurobiology of Pain Physical activity Pain inhibition Functional neuroimaging Subjective pain measurement |
| title | Exercise training augments brain function and reduces pain perception in adults with chronic pain: A systematic review of intervention studies |
| title_full | Exercise training augments brain function and reduces pain perception in adults with chronic pain: A systematic review of intervention studies |
| title_fullStr | Exercise training augments brain function and reduces pain perception in adults with chronic pain: A systematic review of intervention studies |
| title_full_unstemmed | Exercise training augments brain function and reduces pain perception in adults with chronic pain: A systematic review of intervention studies |
| title_short | Exercise training augments brain function and reduces pain perception in adults with chronic pain: A systematic review of intervention studies |
| title_sort | exercise training augments brain function and reduces pain perception in adults with chronic pain a systematic review of intervention studies |
| topic | Physical activity Pain inhibition Functional neuroimaging Subjective pain measurement |
| url | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2452073X23000168 |
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