If a patient undergoing physical therapy tenses their muscles guarding against movement-induced pain, which consequence follows concerning nociceptor signal transmission?

💡 Explanation

Tensing muscles creates rigidity and heightened sensitivity; because this reduces activation of mechanoreceptors and large diameter A-beta fibers that would normally inhibit nociceptive transmission via the spinal gate control mechanism, therefore pain signals are amplified, rather than being modulated by non-nociceptive input.

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