• Lydia Wai Tai, Sung Ching Yeung, and Chi Wai Cheung.
• Laboratory and Clinical Research Institute for Pain, Department of Anaesthesiology, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, Special Administrative Region, China.
• Pain Pract. 2018 Nov 1; 18 (8): 1068-1082.

AbstractNeuropathic pain inflicts tremendous biopsychosocial suffering for patients worldwide. However, safe and effective treatment of neuropathic pain is a prominent unmet clinical need. Environmental enrichment (EE) is an emerging cost-effective nonpharmacological approach to alleviate neuropathic pain and complement rehabilitation care. We present here a review of preclinical studies in ascertaining the efficacy of EE for neuropathic pain. Their proposed mechanisms, including the suppression of ascending nociceptive signaling to the brain, enhancement of the descending inhibitory system, and neuroprotection of the peripheral and central nervous systems, may collectively reduce pain perception and improve somatic and emotional functioning in neuropathic pain. The current evidence offers critical insights for future preclinical research and the translational application of EE in clinical pain management.© 2018 World Institute of Pain.

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