so-called ''pain-adaptation model'', pre-tion between muscle pain and motor Deep pain has the potential to affect control in order to obtain a better un-dicting a decrease in movement ampliderstanding of the basic pain mecha-tude and velocity by muscle pain. The daily movements. The effect of muscle pain per se on co-ordination during neural mechanisms underlying pain-nisms. The interaction between muscle movement is not fully understood. Ex-evoked changes in dynamic motor func-pain and motor control depends on the motor task (rest, static, and dynamic tion can best be related to alternating perimental muscle pain induced in inhibition and excitation of motoneu-healthy subjects might help to elucidate contractions). There is a previous hypothesis concerning the accompaniment rones, but the exact pathways responsi-the basic interaction between muscle pain, muscle activity, and muscle co-or-ble for the modulation are not known. of muscle pain by muscular hyperactivdination. Mechanical, chemical, ther-The new knowledge from human exper-ity, but this so-called ''vicious cycle themal, or electrical stimuli can imental muscle pain studies provides a ory'' has not gained much support in experimentally activate muscle recep-the scientific literature. In addition, sa-better understanding of the basic effects line-induced muscle pain causes no in-of muscle pain and may allow the de-tors that signal noxious input. In this paper, endogenous and exogenous crease in EMG activity at rest. Muscle velopment of better and more evidencepain reduces maximal voluntary con-methods to induce human muscle pain based strategies to manage or reduce the risk of work-related musculoskeletal are discussed. The experimental model traction and endurance time during submaximal contractions. Moreover, pains. mainly used is intramuscular (i.m.) inmuscle pain causes changes in co-ordi-jection of hypertonic saline, as it is safe nation during dynamic tasks with in-KEY WORDS: Experimental muscle and it induces local and referred muscle creased antagonistic muscle activity and pain that can be quantified. This experi-pain -motor control. mental model of muscle pain has been decreased agonistic muscle activity.