Journal of Nippon Medical School: Vol.69 No.6 page.514

Journal of Nippon Medical School

Select Language
in Japanese < > in English

Full Text of this Article

in English PDF (140K)

ArticleTitle From Pain Research to Pain Treatment: Role of Human Pain Models

AuthorList Lars Arendt-Nielsen and Hiroyuki Sumikura

Affiliation Center for Sensory-Motor Interaction, Laboratory for Experimental Pain Research, University of Aalborg

Language EN

Volume 69

Issue 6

Year 2002

Page 514-524

Received July 9, 2002

Accepted August 25, 2002

Keywords experimental pain model, human, pain assessment, pain stimulation, analgesia, drug evaluation

Abstract
There is no objective measure of pain; we can however measure different aspects of the pain perception. Earlier experimental pain models often only involved induction of cutaneous pain. Recently new experimental models have been developed eliciting deep muscle and visceral pain that may more closely resemble the clinical pain condition. It is imperative to use multi-modal and multi-structure pain induction and assessment techniques, as a simple model cannot describe the very complex and multi-factorial aspects of clinical pain.
The importance of peripheral and central hyperexcitability for acute and chronic pain has been demonstrated in animals and to some extent in humans. But in spite of our immense knowledge we still do not know how to prevent and treat this hyperexcitability. Our understanding of nociceptive mechanisms involved in acute and chronic pain and the effects of anaesthetic drugs or combinations of drugs on these mechanisms in humans may also be expanded with experimental human models. This knowledge can then help us to develop and test therapeutic regimes in patients with acute and chronic pain.

Correspondence to Lars Arendt-Nielsen, Prof. , Ph. D. , Center for Sensory-Motor Interaction, Laboratory for Experimental Pain Research, University of Aalborg, Fr. Bajersvej 7D, DK-9220 Aalborgφ, Denmark
LAN@smi.auc.dk

ArticleTitle	From Pain Research to Pain Treatment: Role of Human Pain Models
AuthorList	Lars Arendt-Nielsen and Hiroyuki Sumikura
Affiliation	Center for Sensory-Motor Interaction, Laboratory for Experimental Pain Research, University of Aalborg
Language	EN
Volume	69
Issue	6
Year	2002
Page	514-524
Received	July 9, 2002
Accepted	August 25, 2002
Keywords	experimental pain model, human, pain assessment, pain stimulation, analgesia, drug evaluation
Abstract	There is no objective measure of pain; we can however measure different aspects of the pain perception. Earlier experimental pain models often only involved induction of cutaneous pain. Recently new experimental models have been developed eliciting deep muscle and visceral pain that may more closely resemble the clinical pain condition. It is imperative to use multi-modal and multi-structure pain induction and assessment techniques, as a simple model cannot describe the very complex and multi-factorial aspects of clinical pain. The importance of peripheral and central hyperexcitability for acute and chronic pain has been demonstrated in animals and to some extent in humans. But in spite of our immense knowledge we still do not know how to prevent and treat this hyperexcitability. Our understanding of nociceptive mechanisms involved in acute and chronic pain and the effects of anaesthetic drugs or combinations of drugs on these mechanisms in humans may also be expanded with experimental human models. This knowledge can then help us to develop and test therapeutic regimes in patients with acute and chronic pain.
Correspondence to	Lars Arendt-Nielsen, Prof. , Ph. D. , Center for Sensory-Motor Interaction, Laboratory for Experimental Pain Research, University of Aalborg, Fr. Bajersvej 7D, DK-9220 Aalborgφ, Denmark LAN@smi.auc.dk