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BMC Musculoskeletal Disorders
Published in: BMC Musculoskeletal Disorders 1/2020

Open Access 01-12-2020 | Research article

Pain intensity and pressure pain thresholds after a light dynamic physical load in patients with chronic neck-shoulder pain

Authors: A. Grimby-Ekman, C. Ahlstrand, B. Gerdle, B. Larsson, H. Sandén

Published in: BMC Musculoskeletal Disorders | Issue 1/2020

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Abstract

Background

To investigate the development of pain intensity and pressure pain thresholds during and 24 h after a light dynamic physical load among patients with chronic neck-shoulder pain.

Methods

Twenty-six patients with chronic neck-shoulder pain and 12 healthy controls were included. The participants arm-cycled on an ergometer. Effort was rated with the Borg Rating of Perceived Exertion scale (RPE), and pain intensity with an numeric rating scale (NRS). Pressure pain thresholds were measured by an algometer. Participants started a pain diary 1 week before the physical exercise and continued until 1 week after. Pain intensity was assessed before, during and the following two evenings after arm-cycling. Pressure pain thresholds were assessed before, 15 min after, 105 min after and 24 h after.

Results

The chronic pain group showed increased pain intensity during, and the following two evenings after the arm cycling, and decreased pain thresholds immediately after the arm cycling involving painful regions. In the patient group there were no impact on pain thresholds in the neck the following day.

Conclusions

Patients with chronic neck-shoulder pain reported increased pain intensity during and in the evenings after a light dynamic load involving painful regions. In addition, they showed decreased pain thresholds close to the exercise, indicating mechanical hyperalgesia.
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Metadata
Title
Pain intensity and pressure pain thresholds after a light dynamic physical load in patients with chronic neck-shoulder pain
Authors
A. Grimby-Ekman
C. Ahlstrand
B. Gerdle
B. Larsson
H. Sandén
Publication date
01-12-2020
Publisher
BioMed Central
Published in
BMC Musculoskeletal Disorders / Issue 1/2020
Electronic ISSN: 1471-2474
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1186/s12891-020-03298-y

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