Muscle Synergies in Pain and Pain Anticipation

This study investigates how the anticipation of pain affects muscle synergies. One group will be recruited who will first experience actual pain from capsaicin cream and are then presented with a harmless cream deceptively labeled as capsaicin. The changes in muscle synergies will be measured during walking tasks.

Inclusion Criteria: * Aged 18-35 years old * Healthy participant with no self-reported diagnosed neurological, musculoskeletal, or cardiovascular disorders * Body Mass Index (BMI) \< 30 * Ability to walk unaided for at least 10 minutes without major physical limitations Exclusion Criteria: * Presence of pain at the time of testing * Self-reported diagnosed condition affecting mobility * Known allergy to any component of the study cream * Allergy to EMG electrode adhesives * Inability to stand unassisted for more than 1 minute * Inability to walk/run at the required speed and distance * Weight exceeding 150 kg (due to treadmill limitations) * Recent intake (prior intervention) of: * Analgesics (within 6 hours) * Cigarettes (within 6 hours) * Caffeine (within 2 hours) * Skin lesions at the cream application site * Pregnancy * Failure to understand instructions * Daytime pain reported by participant on day of experimentation