Question

Ross strains his calf muscle at the gym. at home, he massages the muscle. doing so not only decreases swelling, but it also closes the pain gates from the _____ by stimulating _____ fibers.

Answer 1

spinal cord; A-alpha & A-beta

Step-by-step explanation:

Ross strains his calf muscle at the gym. at home, he massages the muscle. doing so not only decreases swelling, but it also closes the pain gates from the _spinal cord_ by stimulating _A-alpha and A-beta_fibers.

Explanation: Pain is transmitted from the injured area by peripheral nerve fibers to the brain via the spinal cord. The A-delta and C fibers are responsible for transmitting pain and the A-alpha and A-beta for touch, pressure and temperature. Rubbing the injured area blocks or closes the pain gates from the spinal cord by overriding the A-delta and C-fibers with the increase in applied pressure stimulating the A-alpha and A-beta fibers.

Answer 2

but it also closes the pain gates from the bottom up by stimulating large myelin fibers.

Stimulation of non-nociceptor by rubbing the skin will activate bottom up gating mechanism. This stimulation will inhibit the firing of the nociceptor that responsible for the pain.