Central and peripheral sensitization can cause which type of sensitization related to pressure and stretch?

• A. Central and peripheral sensitization
• B. Central sensitization only
• C. Peripheral sensitization only
• D. Neither contributes to mechanical sensitization.

Answer: (A)

Pressure and stretch become more painful when both peripheral and central nervous system changes heighten sensitivity. In peripheral sensitization, nociceptors at the injury site respond more readily to mechanical input because inflammatory mediators lower their thresholds and increase their responsiveness. That means ordinary pressure or stretch can trigger stronger signals from the periphery. In central sensitization, the spinal cord and brain amplify those signals, broaden receptive fields, and can generate pain to inputs that would normally be non-painful, producing mechanical allodynia and heightened responses to pressure or stretch. When these processes occur together, sensitivity to mechanical stimuli is amplified across the pathway, making the correct answer that both central and peripheral sensitization contribute to mechanical sensitization.