Offset analgesia is increased intra‐orally

• Published in: Journal of oral rehabilitation 2022-10, Vol.49 (10), p.993-1001
• Main Authors: Szikszay, Tibor M., Lévénez, Juliette L. M., Adamczyk, Wacław M., Carvalho, Gabriela F., Luedtke, Kerstin
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Analgesia; Body temperature; Cheek; Forearm; glabrous; intra‐oral; Mucosa; offset analgesia; Pain; pain modulation; Pain perception; Sensory neurons; trigeminal
• ISSN: 0305-182X; 1365-2842
• DOI: 10.1111/joor.13356

Background Offset analgesia (OA) is commonly used to quantify endogenous pain inhibition. However, the potential role of afferent inputs and the subsequent peripheral factors from different body areas on the underlying mechanisms are still unclear. Objectives The aim of this cross‐sectional study was to compare the magnitude of OA in four different body areas representing (a) glabrous and non‐glabrous skin, (b) trigeminal and extra‐trigeminal areas, and (c) intra‐ and extra‐oral tissue. Methods OA was assessed at the oral mucosa of the lower lip, the skin of the cheek, the forearm and the palm of the hand in 32 healthy and pain‐free participants. OA testing included two trials: (1) a constant trial (30 s of constant heat stimulation at an individualised temperature of Pain50 [pain intensity of 50 out of 100]) and (2) an offset trial (10 s of individualised Pain50, followed by 5 s at Pain50 + 1°C and 15 s at Pain50). Participants continuously rated their pain during each trial with a computerised visual analogue scale. Results A significant OA response was recorded at the oral mucosa (p