Abstract

In some situations, nerve cells display peculiar behaviour, referred to as spontaneous activity. It consists in generating spontaneous action potentials, which are not directly triggered by an external factor. They are most frequently recorded at nerve endings located in an area of damaged tissue and subject to sensitisation or a traumatic neuroma.Spontaneous activity of nerve fibres may vary in form and intensity. From the clinical viewpoint, it is important to determine whether this activity still represents a physiological form of transferring information to the body or whether it is purely pathologic activity, carrying no information. This distinction becomes especially important in the case of slowly conducting nociceptive nerve fibres, which supply the central nervous system with information about strong stimuli acting on the tissue and events capable of inflicting tissue damage. The activity of this group of nerve fibres stimulates central structures of the nociceptive system, produces pain sensations and may cause hyperalgesia and allodynia.Research on spontaneous activity has special application for rehabilitation methods and physiotherapeutic activities in clinical practice. Such activity of neurons is capable of modulating patients’ thresholds for experiencing sensations, including pain, which may adversely affect their reception of the therapy.

Key words:

spontaneous activity, nerve fibre, Neuroma, Inflammation