{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2026,8,23]],"date-time":"2026-08-23T14:42:20Z","timestamp":1787496140039,"version":"build-2736575974"},"reference-count":44,"publisher":"MDPI AG","issue":"2","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2024,5,11]],"date-time":"2024-05-11T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1715385600000},"content-version":"vor","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/4.0\/"}],"content-domain":{"domain":[],"crossmark-restriction":false},"short-container-title":["NeuroSci"],"abstract":"<jats:p>Myofascial stretching is often prescribed in the management of musculoskeletal pain. However, the neural mechanisms contributing to a decrease in pain are unknown. Stretching produces a sensation that may act as a conditioning stimulus in a conditioned pain modulation response. The purpose of this study was to compare immediate changes in pressure pain thresholds (PPTs) during a low-intensity stretch, moderate-intensity stretch, and cold water immersion task. A secondary purpose was to examine if personal pain sensitivity and psychological characteristics were associated with the responses to these interventions. Twenty-seven (27) healthy participants underwent a cross-over study design in which they completed a cold water immersion task, upper trapezius stretch to the onset of the stretch sensation, and a moderate-intensity stretch. A significant condition x time effect was observed (F (8,160) = 2.85, p &lt; 0.01, partial eta2 = 0.13), indicating reductions in pain sensitivity were significantly greater during a cold water immersion task compared to moderate-intensity stretching at minutes two and four. Widespread increases in heat pain threshold and lower pain-related anxiety were moderately correlated with the response to the cold water immersion task but not stretching. Moderate-intensity stretching may not elicit a conditioned pain modulation response possibly because the stretch was not intense enough to be perceived as painful.<\/jats:p>","DOI":"10.3390\/neurosci5020011","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2024,5,15]],"date-time":"2024-05-15T06:59:32Z","timestamp":1715756372000},"page":"158-168","update-policy":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3390\/mdpi_crossmark_policy","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":5,"title":["The Effect of Myofascial Stretching on Mechanical Nociception and Contributing Neural Mechanisms"],"prefix":"10.3390","volume":"5","author":[{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0001-9740-5917","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Abigail W.","family":"Anderson","sequence":"first","affiliation":[{"name":"School of Kinesiology and Rehabilitation Sciences, University of Central Florida, Orlando, FL 32816, USA"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Arthur","family":"Soncini","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"School of Kinesiology and Rehabilitation Sciences, University of Central Florida, Orlando, FL 32816, USA"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0009-0006-8393-503X","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Kaitlyn","family":"Lyons","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"School of Kinesiology and Rehabilitation Sciences, University of Central Florida, Orlando, FL 32816, USA"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-4649-0979","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"William J.","family":"Hanney","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"School of Kinesiology and Rehabilitation Sciences, University of Central Florida, Orlando, FL 32816, USA"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]}],"member":"1968","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2024,5,11]]},"reference":[{"key":"ref_1","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"21","DOI":"10.1016\/j.jpain.2020.04.003","article-title":"Exercise-Induced Hypoalgesia in Healthy Individuals and People with Chronic Musculoskeletal Pain: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis","volume":"22","author":"Wewege","year":"2021","journal-title":"J. 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