Effect of Swimming Training on Neuropathic Pain Induced by CCI in Male Adult Rats: Behavioral Study

The present study examined the effects of swimming training on chronic constriction injury (CCI) of sciatic nerve in Wistar male rats. Forty Wistar eight-week rats were assigned into 5 groups: 1) CCI neuropathic pain with swimming training (CCIST); 2) CCI neuropathic pain without swimming training (CCI); 3) No CCI neuropathic pain with swimming training (ST); No CCI neuropathic pain without swimming training (Control); 5) CCI sham surgery (Sham CCI). CCI and CCIST groups underwent peripheral nerve injury by four loose ligatures around sciatic nerve. Swimming training program includes two weeks (5 sessions per week, 30-60 min per session). Behavioral tests included the study of mechanical and thermal hyperalgesia and allodynia, which was conducted every week. Statistical results showed that mechanical (P=0.023 and P=0.013, respectively) and thermal (P=0.013 and P