Reorganisation of human step initiation during acute experimental muscle pain

The effects of experimentally induced pain in tibialis anterior on step initiation were studied in six healthy male volunteers by kinematics, kinetics and electromyography (EMG). We observed longer reaction times, lower joint moments and decreased EMG activity in the painful leading leg’s tibialis anterior and gastrocnemius muscles. Peripheral nociceptive input appeared to alter the internal representation used in the step initiation motor program.