Understanding how deep pressure touch affects pain perception
Official title: CRCNS: Computational modeling to predict afferent firing to deep pressure touch
Funded at University of Virginia · NIH-11081830 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is looking at how gentle, deep pressure, like what you might feel during a massage, affects how we feel pain, especially for people with ongoing muscle and joint pain, by exploring how our nerves react to this pressure.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Virginia NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Charlottesville, United States) |
| Project start | September 6, 2024 |
| Project end | August 31, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2024 |
| Award (this year) | $155,748 |
| NIH project number | 1R01AT013186-01 |
| Project ID | NIH-11081830 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are individuals experiencing chronic musculoskeletal pain who may benefit from therapies involving deep pressure touch.
✕Less likely to help
Patients with acute pain conditions or those not experiencing musculoskeletal pain may not receive benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research investigates how deep pressure touch, often experienced in therapies like massage, influences pain perception by examining the neuronal mechanisms involved. It aims to develop computational models that predict how different types of nerve fibers respond to deep pressure, which could help in understanding chronic musculoskeletal pain. By using advanced techniques like microneurography to record nerve activity, the study will analyze how these responses change with tissue manipulation. The ultimate goal is to link these neural responses to the sensations of discomfort and pain in the body.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to improved pain management strategies for patients suffering from chronic musculoskeletal pain.
How similar studies have gone: Other research has shown promise in understanding the effects of touch on pain perception, making this approach both relevant and potentially impactful.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Virginia
Charlottesville, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Gerling, Gregory John — University of Virginia
- Study coordinator: Gerling, Gregory John
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About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page.