Differential effects of activity dependent treatments on axonal regeneration and neuropathic pain after peripheral nerve injury

► Activity-dependent therapies are useful to improve or recover lost functions after nerve lesions. ► Early electrical stimulation enhances nerve regeneration, motor and sensory reinnervation. ► Forced treadmill exercise reduced adjacent neuropathic pain before and after sciatic reinnervation. ► Combination of electrical stimulation with treadmill exercise induced agonistic effects in relieving neuropathic pain. ► Effects of activity treatments were related to changes in neurotrophic factor expression in sensory and motor neurons.