Comparing quantitative sensory testing and psychological factors between individuals with acute and chronic shoulder pain.

OBJECTIVES

Shoulder pain is a prevalent condition with high rates of transition from acute to chronic pain. Prior literature reports inconsistent changes in pain sensitivity among individuals with chronic pain and healthy controls. However, limited evidence has directly compared biopsychosocial factors among individuals with acute and chronic shoulder pain.

METHODS

Participants completed pain-related psychological questionnaires (fear of pain, catastrophizing, kinesiophobia, depression, anxiety, and self-efficacy), quantitative sensory testing (Pressure Pain Threshold (PPT), Heat Pain Threshold (HPT), Temporal Summation (TS), and Conditioned Pain Modulation (CPM)), and were categorized as acute (<12 weeks) or chronic (>12 weeks). A Mann-Whitney U test examined for differences in psychological and pain sensitivity by acute or chronic pain.

RESULTS

Individuals with chronic pain (n = 27) displayed similar HPT as those with acute pain (n = 13) but reported significantly higher pain intensity at threshold across all sites (p < 0.05). Individuals with chronic pain also demonstrated significantly lower PPT with higher pain ratings over the low back and tibialis anterior (p < 0.05). Significantly higher pain-related anxiety and lower self-efficacy was demonstrated in individuals with chronic pain compared to acute (p = 0.01).

CONCLUSIONS

In comparing individuals with acute to chronic shoulder pain, alterations in pain ratings at threshold and psychological factors may contribute to persistent pain in individuals with shoulder pain.