An Experimental Approach to Examining Psychological Contributions to Multisite Musculoskeletal Pain

Identifying pain profiles in employees including work-related factors and pain perceptions: a cross-sectional study in Belgian companies

OBJECTIVES

Studies usually investigate a limited number or a predefined combinations of risk factors for sickness absence in employees with pain. We examined frequently occurring combinations across a wide range of work-related factors and pain perceptions.

DESIGN

Cross-sectional study.

SETTING

Belgian companies that are under supervision of IDEWE, an external service for prevention and protection at work.

PARTICIPANTS

In total, 249 employees experiencing pain for at least 6 weeks were included and filled out an online survey.

OUTCOMES

Latent profile analysis was used to differentiate profiles of work-related factors (physical demands, workload, social support and autonomy) and pain perceptions (catastrophising, fear-avoidance beliefs and pain acceptance). Subsequently, profiles were compared on sociodemographics (age, gender, level of education, work arrangement, duration of complaints, multisite pain and sickness absence in the previous year) and predictors of sickness absence (behavioural intention and perceived behavioural control).

RESULTS

Four profiles were identified. Profile 1 (38.2%) had favourable scores and profile 4 (14.9%) unfavourable scores across all indicators. Profile 2 (33.3%) had relatively high physical demands, moderate autonomy levels and favourable scores on the other indicators. Profile 3 (13.7%) showed relatively low physical demands, moderate autonomy levels, but unfavourable scores on the other indicators. Predictors of profiles were age (OR 0.93 and 95% CI (0.89 to 0.98)), level of education (OR 0.28 and 95% CI (0.1 to 0.79)) and duration of sickness absence in the previous year (OR 2.29 and 95% CI (0.89 to 5.88)). Significant differences were observed in behavioural intention (χ2=8.92, p=0.030) and perceived behavioural control (χ2=12.37, p=0.006) across the four profiles.

CONCLUSION

This study highlights the significance of considering the interplay between work-related factors and pain perceptions in employees. Unfavourable scores on a single work factor might not translate into maladaptive pain perceptions or subsequent sickness absence, if mitigating factors are in place. Special attention must be devoted to employees dealing with unfavourable working conditions along with maladaptive pain perceptions. In this context, social support emerges as an important factor influencing sickness absence.

Pain Catastrophizing: Controversies, Misconceptions and Future Directions

Recent reports have pointed to problems with the term "pain catastrophizing." Critiques of the term pain catastrophizing have come from several sources including individuals with chronic pain, advocates for individuals with chronic pain, and pain scholars. Reports indicate that the term has been used to dismiss the medical basis of pain complaints, to question the authenticity of pain complaints, and to blame individuals with pain for their pain condition. In this paper, we advance the position that the problems prompting calls to rename the construct of pain catastrophizing have little to do with the term, and as such, changing the term will do little to solve these problems. We argue that continued calls for changing or deleting the term pain catastrophizing will only divert attention away from some fundamental flaws in how individuals with pain conditions are assessed and treated. Some of these fundamental flaws have their roots in the inadequate training of health and allied health professionals in evidence-based models of pain, in the use of psychological assessment and intervention tools for the clinical management of pain, and in gender equity and antiracism. Critiques that pain scholars have leveled against the defining, operational, and conceptual bases of pain catastrophizing are also addressed. Arguments for reconceptualizing pain catastrophizing as a worry-related construct are discussed. Recommendations are made for remediation of the problems that have contributed to calls to rename the term pain catastrophizing. PERSPECTIVE: The issues prompting calls to rename the construct of pain catastrophizing have their roots in fundamental flaws in how individuals with pain are assessed and treated. Efforts to address these problems will require more than a simple change in terminology.

Is transcranial direct current stimulation beneficial for treating pain, depression, and anxiety symptoms in patients with chronic pain? A systematic review and meta-analysis

Background

Chronic pain is often accompanied by emotional dysfunction. Transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) has been used for reducing pain, depressive and anxiety symptoms in chronic pain patients, but its therapeutic effect remains unknown.

Objectives

To ascertain the treatment effect of tDCS on pain, depression, and anxiety symptoms of patients suffering from chronic pain, and potential factors that modulate the effectiveness of tDCS.

Methods

Literature search was performed on PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, and Cochrane Library from inception to July 2022. Randomized controlled trials that reported the effects of tDCS on pain and depression and anxiety symptoms in patients with chronic pain were included.

Results

Twenty-two studies were included in this review. Overall pooled results indicated that the use of tDCS can effectively alleviate short-term pain intensity [standard mean difference (SMD): -0.43, 95% confidence interval (CI): -0.75 to -0.12, P = 0.007] and depressive symptoms (SMD: -0.31, 95% CI, -0.47 to -0.14, P < 0.001), middle-term depressive symptoms (SMD: -0.35, 95% CI: -0.58 to -0.11, P = 0.004), long-term depressive symptoms (ES: -0.38, 95% CI: -0.64 to -0.13, P = 0.003) and anxiety symptoms (SMD: -0.26, 95% CI: -0.51 to -0.02, P = 0.03) compared with the control group.

Conclusion

tDCS may be an effective short-term treatment for the improvement of pain intensity and concomitant depression and anxiety symptoms in chronic pain patients. Stimulation site, stimulation frequency, and type of chronic pain were significant influence factors for the therapeutic effect of tDCS.

Systematic review registration

https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/PROSPERO/display_record.php?RecordID=297693, identifier: CRD42022297693.

Susceptibility to movement-evoked pain following resistance exercise

Objective

To investigate the: (1) role of basic muscle pain sensitivity and psychological factors in the prediction of movement-evoked pain (MEP) following delayed onset muscle soreness (DOMS), and (2) association of MEP with changes in systemic muscle pain sensitivity following DOMS induction.

Methods

Fifty-one participants were assigned to either eccentric resistance exercise or control groups. They completed questionnaires evaluating psychological distress and underwent muscle pain sensitivity evaluation by the pressure pain threshold (PPT) test at the exercised and remote muscles, before and 24 hours following the intervention. MEP intensity was determined in response to lifting a 3kg canister using a visual analogue scale (VAS).

Results

The exercise group demonstrated MEP intensity of 5/10 on VAS and reduced PPTs at the main exercised muscle (p<0.001). A regression tree analyses revealed that the level of anxiety trait predicted a higher MEP intensity. A secondary analysis showed that 53% participants who were DOMS responders (MEP > mild intensity; ≥ 3/10 VAS) exhibited decreased PPTs in the exercised (p<0.001) and remote (p = 0.027) muscles following eccentric exercise. Characterization of DOMS responders revealed that, at baseline, they had lower PPTs in the exercised (p = 0.004) and remote (p = 0.001) muscles and reported higher psychological distress i.e., anxiety trait and depression symptoms (p<0.05), compared to non-responders. A regression analysis revealed that lower PPT or high levels of anxiety trait increased the probability to become a responder (p = 0.001).

Conclusions

Susceptibility to MEP following DOMS is determined by muscle pain hypersensitivity and high levels of anxiety trait. MEP at the early stage of DOMS is linked with an increase in systemic muscle pain sensitivity suggestive of central mechanisms. This knowledge is valuable in translating science into clinical musculoskeletal pain management.

Are Mind-Body Exercise Beneficial for Treating Pain, Function, and Quality of Life in Middle-Aged and Old People With Chronic Pain? A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Background

Aging is a significant risk factor in chronic pain development with extensive disability and greater health care costs. Mind-body exercise (MBE) has been scientifically proven to affect the pain intensity and physical health.

Objectives

To assess the effects of MBE modes (Tai Chi, yoga, and qigong) for treating chronic pain among middle-aged and old people, compared with nonactive and active treatment, as well as function, quality of life, and adverse events.

Methods

We searched PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, Cochrane Library, China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI), Wanfang Database, and Chinese Scientific Journals Full-Text Database (VIP) till March 2022. No restrictions were chartered within the year and language of publication. We included randomized controlled trials of MBE treatment in middle-aged and elderly people with chronic pain. The overall certainty of evidence was evaluated by using the GRADE approach.

Results

A total of 17 studies (n = 1,332) were included in this review. There was low-certainty evidence indicating that MBE had a moderate effect on reducing pain compared with the nonactive and active control group (standard mean difference (SMD): -0.64, 95% confidence interval (CI): -0.86 to -0.42, P < 0.001). Very-low-certainty evidence showed that the pooled SMD for the functional improvement was -0.75 (95% CI: -1.13 to -0.37, P < 0.001). Low-certainty evidence presented that no influence was observed in physical component summary (SMD: 0.23, 95% CI: -0.16 to 0.62, P = 0.24) and mental component summary (SMD: -0.01, 95% CI -0.39 to 0.36, P = 0.95).

Conclusion

Our results indicated that MBE was an effective treatment for reducing symptoms of middle-aged and elderly people with chronic pain compared with nonactive and active control groups. TC and qigong had obvious benefits for knee osteoarthritis in self-reported function, but the efficacy of chronic low back pain was uncertain. No significant benefit of MBE on quality of life in older adults with chronic pain was found. More high-quality RCTs should be conducted to explore the efficacy and mechanism of MBE on chronic pain in middle-aged and elderly people from various dimensions, such as affective and cognitive dimensions.

Systematic Review Registration

https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/PROSPERO/display_record.php?RecordID=316591, identifier CRD42022316591.

Negative Psychological Factors' Influence on Delayed Onset Muscle Soreness Intensity, Reduced Cervical Function and Daily Activities in Healthy Participants

We examined the influence of negative psychological factors (catastrophizing, distress and kinesiophobia) on delayed onset muscle soreness (DOMS) intensity, cervical function (strength and range of motion) and on daily activities (ADL), and the suitability of an exercise protocol designed to induce DOMS within the cervical region. Psychological factors and cervical function were assessed in 86 healthy participants at baseline before applying a DOMS provocation protocol in the cervical flexor muscles. After 24hour, cervical function was reassessed. In addition, at 24hour and 48hour, the intensity of DOMS and its impact on ADL were assessed using the visual analog scale (VAS). The protocol was effective given that it generated low-moderate intensity DOMS (VAS≈30 -40mm) and a statistically significant reduction in cervical strength and range of motion. Psychological distress (anxiety and depression), but not kinesiophobia and catastrophism, predicted a loss of cervical strength (explained 43% of the variance) and range of motion (explained 22% of the variance) after induction of DOMS. In addition, participants' anxiety level predicted DOMS intensity at 24hour (explained 19% of the variance). PERSPECTIVE: The present findings highlight the relevance of evaluating psychological distress as a preventive/therapeutic measure, given that high levels of distress could lead to more intense and disabling pain in acute injuries, and all these aspects are considered risk factors for the chronification of symptoms.

Chronic Plantar Heel Pain Is Principally Associated With Waist Girth (Systemic) and Pain (Central) Factors, Not Foot Factors: A Case-Control Study

OBJECTIVE

To determine the independent associations of potential clinical, symptom, physical activity, and psychological factors with chronic plantar heel pain.

DESIGN

Case-control.

METHODS

We investigated associations by comparing 220 participants with chronic (more than 3 months in duration) plantar heel pain to 100 age- and sex-matched controls, who were recruited randomly from the electoral roll. Exposures measured were waist girth, body mass index, body composition, clinical measures of foot and leg function, physical activity via accelerometry, depression and pain catastrophizing, symptoms of prolonged morning stiffness anywhere in the body, and multisite pain. Data were analyzed using multivariable conditional logistic regression.

RESULTS

Waist girth (centimeters) (odds ratio [OR] = 1.06; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.03, 1.09), ankle plantar flexor strength (kilograms) (OR = 0.98; 95% CI: 0.97, 0.99), pain at multiple sites (pain at 1 other site: OR = 2.76; 95% CI: 1.29, 5.91; pain at 4 or more other sites: OR = 10.45; 95% CI: 3.66, 29.81), and pain catastrophizing status (none, some, or catastrophizer) (some: OR = 2.91; 95% CI: 1.33, 6.37; catastrophizer: OR = 6.79; 95% CI: 1.91, 24.11) were independently associated with chronic plantar heel pain. There were univariable but not independent associations with morning stiffness, first metatarsophalangeal joint extension range of motion, depression, and body mass index. There were no significant associations with physical activity or body composition (bioelectrical impedance analysis).

CONCLUSION

Waist girth, ankle plantar flexor strength, multisite pain, and pain catastrophizing, but not foot-specific factors, were independently associated with chronic plantar heel pain. Of these 4 factors, 3 (waist girth, multisite pain, and pain catastrophizing) were central or systemic associations. J Orthop Sports Phys Ther 2021;51(9):449-458. Epub 7 May 2021. doi:10.2519/jospt.2021.10018.

Psycho-sensory relationships in chronic pain

BACKGROUND

Psychological variables contribute to pain- and injury-related outcomes. We examined the hypothesis that anatomical spread and intensity of persistent pain relate to anxiety-related variables: generalised anxiety, fear of pain and pain catastrophising.

METHODS

An online survey was used to gather data from 413 women with persistent pain (low back pain, n = 139; fibromyalgia syndrome, n = 95; neck pain, n = 55; whiplash, n = 41; rheumatoid arthritis, n = 37; migraine, n = 46). The spread and intensity of pain were assessed using the McGill pain chart and a Numerical Rating Scale. A Bayesian Structural Equation Model assessed if the intensity and spread of pain increased with anxiety-related variables. Men were also surveyed (n = 80), but the sample size was only sufficient for analysing if their data were consistent with the model for women.

RESULTS

Across subgroups of women, one standard deviation increase in catastrophising, generalised anxiety and fear corresponded to 27%, 7% and -1% additional pain areas and a 1.1, 0 and -0.1 change in pain intensity (on 0-10 scale), respectively. Overall, our clinical significance criterion - a 30% shift in pain variable in relation to one standard deviation increase in psychological variable - was not met. However, in subgroups it was met for pain spread (low back pain, neck pain and migraine) and pain intensity (migraine and neck pain) in relation to pain catastrophising. The model generally had low goodness-of-fit to men.

CONCLUSION

These data support a meaningful relationship between some anxiety-related variables and pain in women for some conditions. Since the model did not consistently fit the men, we may conclude that the relationships are moderated by sex. Clinician attention to psychological variables as potential contributing factors can be justified; however, research is needed to understand the relationship and whether psychological treatment can reduce pain.

A picture is worth a thousand words: linking fibromyalgia pain widespreadness from digital pain drawings with pain catastrophizing and brain cross-network connectivity

ABSTRACT

Pain catastrophizing is prominent in chronic pain conditions such as fibromyalgia and has been proposed to contribute to the development of pain widespreadness. However, the brain mechanisms responsible for this association are unknown. We hypothesized that increased resting salience network (SLN) connectivity to nodes of the default mode network (DMN), representing previously reported pain-linked cross-network enmeshment, would be associated with increased pain catastrophizing and widespreadness across body sites. We applied functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) and digital pain drawings (free-hand drawing over a body outline, analyzed using conventional software for multivoxel fMRI analysis) to investigate precisely quantified measures of pain widespreadness and the associations between pain catastrophizing (Pain Catastrophizing Scale), resting brain network connectivity (Dual-regression Independent Component Analysis, 6-minute multiband accelerated fMRI), and pain widespreadness in fibromyalgia patients (N = 79). Fibromyalgia patients reported pain in multiple body areas (most frequently the spinal region, from the lower back to the neck), with moderately high pain widespreadness (mean ± SD: 26.1 ± 24.1% of total body area), and high pain catastrophizing scale scores (27.0 ± 21.9, scale range: 0-52), which were positively correlated (r = 0.26, P = 0.02). A whole-brain regression analysis focused on SLN connectivity indicated that pain widespreadness was also positively associated with SLN connectivity to the posterior cingulate cortex, a key node of the DMN. Moreover, we found that SLN-posterior cingulate cortex connectivity statistically mediated the association between pain catastrophizing and pain widespreadness (P = 0.01). In conclusion, we identified a putative brain mechanism underpinning the association between greater pain catastrophizing and a larger spatial extent of body pain in fibromyalgia, implicating a role for brain SLN-DMN cross-network enmeshment in mediating this association.

Metabolomic analysis coupled with extreme phenotype sampling identified that lysophosphatidylcholines are associated with multisite musculoskeletal pain

ABSTRACT

Musculoskeletal pain often occurs simultaneously at multiple anatomical sites. The aim of the study was to identify metabolic biomarkers for multisite musculoskeletal pain (MSMP) by metabolomics with an extreme phenotype sampling strategy. The study participants (n = 610) were derived from the Newfoundland Osteoarthritis Study. Musculoskeletal pain was assessed using a self-reported pain questionnaire where painful sites were circled on a manikin by participants and the total number of painful sites were calculated. Targeted metabolomic profiling on fasting plasma samples was performed using the Biocrates AbsoluteIDQ p180 kit. Plasma cytokine concentrations including tumor necrosis factor-α, interleukin-6, interleukin-1β, and macrophage migration inhibitory factor were assessed by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Data on blood cholesterol profiles were retrieved from participants' medical records. Demographic, anthropological, and clinical information was self-reported. The number of reported painful sites ranged between 0 and 21. Two hundred and five participants were included in the analysis comprising 83 who had ≥7 painful sites and 122 who had ≤1 painful site. Women and younger people were more likely to have MSMP (P ≤ 0.02). Multisite musculoskeletal pain was associated with a higher risk of having incontinence, worse functional status and longer period of pain, and higher levels of low-density lipoprotein and non-high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (all P ≤ 0.03). Among the 186 metabolites measured, 2 lysophosphatidylcholines, 1 with 26 carbons with no double bond and 1 with 28 carbons with 1 double bond, were significantly and positively associated with MSMP after adjusting for multiple testing with the Bonferroni method (P ≤ 0.0001) and could be considered as novel metabolic markers for MSMP.

Preoperative pain catastrophisation may predict worse patient-reported outcomes after primary hip arthroplasty: A pilot study

AIM

to investigate the relationship between pain catastrophising and patient-reported clinical outcomes following primary total hip arthroplasty.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

prospective consecutive study of 103 patients who completed preoperative Pain Catastrophisation Score (PCS), preoperative and 12-month postoperative Oxford Hip Score (OHS). Correlation analysis was carried out between the improvement in OHS (mean difference between pre- and postoperative scores) and the mean preoperative PCS score using the Pearson's r rank test. Multiple linear regression was then performed using the postoperative OHS as the outcome variable against a number of predictor variables.

RESULTS

there were 37 males and 66 females with average age of 60.5 years (range 22-84). Mean preoperative PCS score was 16.3 (±13.6; range 0-49). Mean preoperative OHS was 16.5 (±3.5) which had improved at 12-months postoperatively to a mean 38.1 (±11.1). The difference was statistically significant (P < 0.0001). Preoperative PCS scores were correlated with the OHS improvement at 12-months which revealed a weak negative correlation Pearson's correlation coefficient r = - 0.248 (P = 0.0114). Preoperative PCS score, predictor variable, had statistically significant relationship with the postoperative OHS (P = 0.0207). The regression coefficient for the PCS was -0.25, therefore for each unit increase in the preoperative PCS score there was a 0.25 unit decrease in the postoperative OHS score.

CONCLUSION

pain catastrophising appear to predict poorer postoperative patient-reported outcome measures. Further research is needed to evaluate the value of early identification of high-risk patients and the role of preoperative involvement of pain specialists and its effects on postoperative outcomes.

Knee Pain and Structural Damage as Risk Factors for Incident Widespread Pain: Data From the Multicenter Osteoarthritis Study

OBJECTIVE

To examine the longitudinal relationship of knee pain, radiographic osteoarthritis (OA), symptomatic knee OA, and knee pain severity to incident widespread pain.

METHODS

The Multicenter Osteoarthritis Study is a longitudinal cohort of persons with or at risk of knee OA. Participants were characterized as having consistent frequent knee pain, radiographic OA (Kellgren/Lawrence scale grade ≥2), symptomatic OA, and knee pain severity at the 60-month visit (baseline). Widespread pain was categorized as pain above and below the waist, on both sides of the body and axially, using a standard homunculus, excluding knee pain. Incident widespread pain was defined as the presence of widespread pain at 84 months in those who were free of widespread pain at baseline. We assessed the relationship of baseline radiographic OA, symptomatic OA, consistent frequent knee pain, and knee pain severity, respectively, with incident widespread pain using logistic regression, adjusting for potential confounders, including models with and without pain severity.

RESULTS

At baseline, 1,129 subjects were eligible for analysis (mean ± SD age 66.7 ± 7.8 years; mean ± SD body mass index 30.1 ± 5.8 kg/m² ; 52% women). Radiographic OA in either knee (adjusted odds ratio [OR_adj ] 0.90 [95% confidence interval (95% CI) 0.63-1.30]; P = 0.587) was not associated with incident widespread pain. Baseline bilateral consistent frequent knee pain (OR_adj 2.35 [95% CI 1.37-4.03]), bilateral symptomatic OA (OR_adj 2.11 [95% CI 1.04-4.24]), and knee pain severity (worst knee) (OR_adj 1.11 [95% CI 1.05-1.17]; P < 0.001) were significantly associated with incident widespread pain.

CONCLUSION

Consistent frequent knee pain, symptomatic OA, and knee pain severity increased the risk of developing widespread pain, independently of structural pathology. These results suggest that knee pain, and not structural pathology, contributes to the onset of widespread pain.

Factors associated with increased risk for pain catastrophizing in patients with chronic neck pain: A retrospective cross-sectional study

Pain catastrophizing is becoming increasingly recognized as a clinically important psychological factor in chronic musculoskeletal pain. In this retrospective cross-sectional study, we have identified factors associated with an increased risk for pain catastrophizing in chronic neck pain (CNP) patients. We obtained data from our medical database on 331 patients who were treated for neck pain as their chief complaint at our clinic. The Pain Catastrophizing Scale (PCS) was used to define a high pain catastrophizing state (PCS score ≥21) in this study. Patient demographics, pain-related factors, and psychological factors were evaluated with logistic regression analysis to identify risk factors of high pain catastrophizing among patients with CNP. A total of 256 patients with CNP satisfied the study inclusion criteria and were included in the analyses. The median PCS score was 16 (range, 0-45), and 86 of 256 patients (33.5%) reported a PCS score ≥21. In multivariate analysis, high pain intensity, clinical insomnia, and a high level of depression/anxiety were strongly associated with high pain catastrophizing in patients with CNP. Depression was the strongest predictor of high pain catastrophizing, with an odds ratio of 7.35 (95% confidence interval 2.23-24.22). High pain catastrophizing was not significantly related to age, gender, comorbidities, or neck pain-related physical symptoms. In conclusion, poor psychological states should be addressed as an important part of pain management in CNP patients who are susceptible to high pain catastrophizing.

Comparison of operant escape and reflex tests of nociceptive sensitivity

Testing of reflexes such as flexion/withdrawal or licking/guarding is well established as the standard for evaluating nociceptive sensitivity and its modulation in preclinical investigations of laboratory animals. Concerns about this approach have been dismissed for practical reasons - reflex testing requires no training of the animals; it is simple to instrument; and responses are characterized by observers as latencies or thresholds for evocation. In order to evaluate this method, the present review summarizes a series of experiments in which reflex and operant escape responding are compared in normal animals and following surgical models of neuropathic pain or pharmacological intervention for pain. Particular attention is paid to relationships between reflex and escape responding and information on the pain sensitivity of normal human subjects or patients with pain. Numerous disparities between results for reflex and operant escape measures are described, but the results of operant testing are consistent with evidence from humans. Objective reasons are given for experimenters to choose between these and other methods of evaluating the nociceptive sensitivity of laboratory animals.