Why was this research done?

Musculoskeletal (MSK) pain is pain that comes from muscles, bones, joints, tendons or ligaments. Sometimes people with MSK pain are afraid to exercise. Research has shown that some types of exercise interfere with the signals that increase sensitivity to pain. The reviewers wanted to know if aerobic exercise (cycling, walking, stepping) in people with MSK pain decreases sensitivity to pain. They found that for most people, sensitivity to pain is reduced by about 11%. The people who did not benefit were ones who typically experience increasing back or leg pain with walking. This review shows that for many people with MSK pain, controlled aerobic exercise is not harmful and may reduce sensitivity to pain, in general. It is important to note that the exercise did not specifically target the painful joint. The main concern about this study is that it included some studies that were of low quality.