Pain ReportsPub Date : 2024-02-16eCollection Date: 2024-04-01DOI: 10.1097/PR9.0000000000001131
Sabine N van der Veer, S Mustafa Ali, Ziqiao Yu, John McBeth, Alessandro Chiarotto, Ben James, William G Dixon
{"title":"Reliability, validity, and responsiveness of a smartphone-based manikin to support pain self-reporting.","authors":"Sabine N van der Veer, S Mustafa Ali, Ziqiao Yu, John McBeth, Alessandro Chiarotto, Ben James, William G Dixon","doi":"10.1097/PR9.0000000000001131","DOIUrl":"10.1097/PR9.0000000000001131","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Introduction: </strong>Many people worldwide suffer from chronic pain. Improving our knowledge on chronic pain prevalence and management requires methods to collect pain self-reports in large populations. Smartphone-based tools could aid data collection by allowing people to use their own device, but the measurement properties of such tools are largely unknown.</p><p><strong>Objectives: </strong>To assess the reliability, validity, and responsiveness of a smartphone-based manikin to support pain self-reporting.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>We recruited people with fibromyalgia, rheumatoid arthritis, and/or osteoarthritis and access to a smartphone and the internet. Data collection included the Global Pain Scale at baseline and follow-up, and 30 daily pain drawings completed on a 2-dimensional, gender-neutral manikin. After deriving participants' pain extent from their manikin drawings, we evaluated convergent and discriminative validity, test-retest reliability, and responsiveness and assessed findings against internationally agreed criteria for good measurement properties.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>We recruited 131 people; 104 were included in the full sample, submitting 2185 unique pain drawings. Manikin-derived pain extent had excellent test-retest reliability (intraclass correlation coefficient, 0.94), moderate convergent validity (ρ, 0.46), and an ability to distinguish fibromyalgia and osteoarthritis from rheumatoid arthritis (F statistics, 30.41 and 14.36, respectively; <i>P</i> < 0.001). Responsiveness was poor (ρ, 0.2; <i>P</i>, 0.06) and did not meet the respective criterion for good measurement properties.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>Our findings suggest that smartphone-based manikins can be a reliable and valid method for pain self-reporting, but that further research is warranted to explore, enhance, and confirm the ability of such manikins to detect a change in pain over time.</p>","PeriodicalId":52189,"journal":{"name":"Pain Reports","volume":"9 2","pages":"e1131"},"PeriodicalIF":3.4,"publicationDate":"2024-02-16","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC10876220/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"139906875","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pain ReportsPub Date : 2024-02-01eCollection Date: 2024-04-01DOI: 10.1097/PR9.0000000000001119
Veronica Dudarev, Oswald Barral, Mariia Radaeva, Guy Davis, James T Enns
{"title":"Night time heart rate predicts next-day pain in fibromyalgia and primary back pain.","authors":"Veronica Dudarev, Oswald Barral, Mariia Radaeva, Guy Davis, James T Enns","doi":"10.1097/PR9.0000000000001119","DOIUrl":"10.1097/PR9.0000000000001119","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Introduction: </strong>Primary chronic pain is pain that persists for over 3 months without associated measurable tissue damage. One of the most consistent findings in primary chronic pain is its association with autonomic hyperactivation. Yet whether the autonomic hyperactivation causes the pain or results from it is still unclear. It is also unclear to what extent autonomic hyperactivation is related to experienced pain intensity in different subtypes or primary chronic pain.</p><p><strong>Objectives: </strong>Our first aim was to test lagged relationships between the markers of autonomic activation (heart rate) and pain intensity to determine its directionality. The main question here was whether autonomic biomarkers predict pain intensity or whether pain intensity predicts autonomic biomarkers. The second aim was to test whether this relationship is different between people with primary back pain and people with fibromyalgia.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>Sixty-six patients with chronic pain were observed over an average of 81 days. Sleep heart rate and heart rate variability were measured with a wearable sensor, and pain intensity was assessed from daily subjective reports.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>The results showed a predictive relationship between sleep heart rate and next-day pain intensity (<i>P</i> < 0.05), but not between daily pain intensity and next night heart rate. There was no interaction with the type of chronic pain.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>These findings suggest that autonomic hyperactivation, whether stress-driven or arising from other causes, <i>precedes</i> increases in primary chronic pain. Moreover, the present results suggest that autonomic hyperactivation is a common mechanism underlying the pain experience in fibromyalgia and chronic back pain.</p>","PeriodicalId":52189,"journal":{"name":"Pain Reports","volume":"9 2","pages":"e1119"},"PeriodicalIF":3.4,"publicationDate":"2024-02-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC10843528/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"139698921","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pain ReportsPub Date : 2024-01-25eCollection Date: 2024-01-01DOI: 10.1097/PR9.0000000000001116
Beth D Darnall, John W Burns, Juliette Hong, Anuradha Roy, Kristin Slater, Heather Poupore-King, Maisa S Ziadni, Dokyoung S You, Corinne Jung, Karon F Cook, Kate Lorig, Lu Tian, Sean C Mackey
{"title":"Empowered Relief, cognitive behavioral therapy, and health education for people with chronic pain: a comparison of outcomes at 6-month Follow-up for a randomized controlled trial.","authors":"Beth D Darnall, John W Burns, Juliette Hong, Anuradha Roy, Kristin Slater, Heather Poupore-King, Maisa S Ziadni, Dokyoung S You, Corinne Jung, Karon F Cook, Kate Lorig, Lu Tian, Sean C Mackey","doi":"10.1097/PR9.0000000000001116","DOIUrl":"10.1097/PR9.0000000000001116","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Introduction: </strong>We previously conducted a 3-arm randomized trial (263 adults with chronic low back pain) which compared group-based (1) single-session pain relief skills intervention (Empowered Relief; ER); (2) 8-session cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) for chronic back pain; and (3) single-session health and back pain education class (HE). Results suggested non-inferiority of ER vs. CBT at 3 months post-treatment on an array of outcomes.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>Here, we tested the durability of treatment effects at 6 months post-treatment. We examined group differences in primary and secondary outcomes at 6 months and the degree to which outcomes eroded or improved from 3-month to 6-month within each treatment group.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Empowered Relief remained non-inferior to CBT on most outcomes, whereas both ER and CBT remained superior to HE on most outcomes. Outcome improvements within ER did not decrease significantly from 3-month to 6-month, and indeed ER showed additional 3- to 6-month improvements on pain catastrophizing, pain bothersomeness, and anxiety. Effects of ER at 6 months post-treatment (moderate term outcomes) kept pace with effects reported by participants who underwent 8-session CBT.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>The maintenance of these absolute levels implies strong stability of ER effects. Results extend to 6 months post-treatment previous findings documenting that ER and CBT exhibit similarly potent effects on outcomes.</p>","PeriodicalId":52189,"journal":{"name":"Pain Reports","volume":"9 1","pages":"e1116"},"PeriodicalIF":3.4,"publicationDate":"2024-01-25","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC10824382/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"139576869","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pain ReportsPub Date : 2024-01-24eCollection Date: 2024-01-01DOI: 10.1097/PR9.0000000000001133
Timothy J Meeker, Hee Jun Kim, Ingrid K Tulloch, Michael L Keaser, David A Seminowicz, Susan G Dorsey
{"title":"Secondary analysis: heat and self-report pain sensitivity associate with biological sex and racialized sociocultural group but may not be mediated by anxiety or pain catastrophizing.","authors":"Timothy J Meeker, Hee Jun Kim, Ingrid K Tulloch, Michael L Keaser, David A Seminowicz, Susan G Dorsey","doi":"10.1097/PR9.0000000000001133","DOIUrl":"10.1097/PR9.0000000000001133","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Introduction: </strong>Previous studies have demonstrated associations between sex and racialized group on pain sensitivity and tolerance. We analyzed the association of sex and racialized group on heat pain sensitivity, sensibility to painful suprathreshold mechanical pain (STMP), and pain sensitivity questionnaire (PSQ). We hypothesized that anxiety and pain catastrophizing reported by racialized minority groups and women would mediate enhanced pain sensitivity. Our secondary aim was to evaluate validity of the PSQ in a diverse population.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>Using quantitative sensory testing for painful heat, STMP (forces: 64, 128, 256, and 512 mN), and PSQ, we evaluated pain sensitivity in 134 healthy participants [34 (18 women) Asian, 25 (13 women) Black, and 75 (41 women) White]. We used general linear and linear mixed models to analyze outcomes. We assessed mediation of state and trait anxiety and pain catastrophizing on pain sensitivity.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Racialized minority status was associated with greater heat pain sensitivity (F = 7.63; <i>P</i> = 0.00074) and PSQ scores (F = 15.45; <i>P</i> = 9.84 × 10<sup>-7</sup>) but not associated with STMP (F = 1.50; <i>P</i> = 0.23). Female sex was associated with greater heat pain sensitivity (F = 4.9; <i>P</i> = 0.029) and lower PSQ (F = 9.50; <i>P</i> = 0.0025) but not associated with STMP (F = 0.0018; <i>P</i> = 0.97). Neither anxiety nor pain catastrophizing mediated associations between sex or racialized group with heat pain threshold or PSQ. Differential experience of individual items (F = 19.87; <i>P</i> = 3.28 × 10<sup>-8</sup>) limited PSQ face validity in racialized minorities.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>Consistent with previous research, sensitivity to painful heat was associated with racialized minority status and female sex. By contrast, there was no significant effect of racialized minority status or female sex on STMP. Some PSQ items are inapplicable to participants from racialized minority groups.</p>","PeriodicalId":52189,"journal":{"name":"Pain Reports","volume":"9 1","pages":"e1133"},"PeriodicalIF":3.4,"publicationDate":"2024-01-24","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC10811695/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"139572102","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pain ReportsPub Date : 2024-01-24eCollection Date: 2024-01-01DOI: 10.1097/PR9.0000000000001136
Sarah Jänsch, Dimitar Evdokimov, Nadine Egenolf, Caren Meyer Zu Altenschildesche, Luisa Kreß, Nurcan Üçeyler
{"title":"Distinguishing fibromyalgia syndrome from small fiber neuropathy: a clinical guide.","authors":"Sarah Jänsch, Dimitar Evdokimov, Nadine Egenolf, Caren Meyer Zu Altenschildesche, Luisa Kreß, Nurcan Üçeyler","doi":"10.1097/PR9.0000000000001136","DOIUrl":"10.1097/PR9.0000000000001136","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Introduction: </strong>Fibromyalgia syndrome (FMS) and small fiber neuropathy (SFN) are distinct pain conditions that share commonalities and may be challenging as for differential diagnosis.</p><p><strong>Objective: </strong>To comprehensively investigate clinical characteristics of women with FMS and SFN to determine clinically applicable parameters for differentiation.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>We retrospectively analyzed medical records of 158 women with FMS and 53 with SFN focusing on pain-specific medical and family history, accompanying symptoms, additional diseases, and treatment. We investigated data obtained using standardized pain, depression, and anxiety questionnaires. We further analyzed test results and findings obtained in standardized small fiber tests.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>FMS patients were on average ten years younger at symptom onset, described higher pain intensities requiring frequent change of pharmaceutics, and reported generalized pain compared to SFN. Pain in FMS was accompanied by irritable bowel or sleep disturbances, and in SFN by paresthesias, numbness, and impaired glucose metabolism (<i>P</i> < 0.01 each). Family history was informative for chronic pain and affective disorders in FMS (<i>P</i> < 0.001) and for neurological disorders in SFN patients (<i>P</i> < 0.001). Small fiber pathology in terms of skin denervation and/or thermal sensory threshold elevation was present in 110/158 (69.7 %) FMS patients and 39/53 (73.6 %) SFN patients. FMS patients mainly showed proximally reduced skin innervation and higher corneal nerve branch densities (p<0.001) whereas SFN patients were characterized by reduced cold detection and prolonged electrical A-delta conduction latencies (<i>P</i> < 0.05).</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>Our data show that FMS and SFN differ substantially. Detailed pain, drug and family history, investigating blood glucose metabolism, and applying differential small fiber tests may help to improve diagnostic differentiation and targeted therapy.</p>","PeriodicalId":52189,"journal":{"name":"Pain Reports","volume":"9 1","pages":"e1136"},"PeriodicalIF":3.4,"publicationDate":"2024-01-24","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC10811691/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"139572101","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Pathology of knee osteoarthritis pain: contribution of joint structural changes and pain sensitization to movement-evoked pain in knee osteoarthritis.","authors":"Takafumi Hattori, Satoshi Ohga, Kazuhiro Shimo, Takako Matsubara","doi":"10.1097/PR9.0000000000001124","DOIUrl":"10.1097/PR9.0000000000001124","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Introduction: </strong>Movement-evoked pain (MEP) is the primary symptom in patients with knee osteoarthritis (KOA).</p><p><strong>Objectives: </strong>This study aimed to investigate the contribution of joint structural changes and pain sensitization to the mechanisms of MEP in patients with KOA.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>A total of 86 patients were assessed for demographic characteristics, osteoarthritis severity, Whole-Organ Magnetic Resonance Imaging Score-Hoffa synovitis and bone marrow lesions, pressure pain threshold and temporal summation of pain at the knee and forearm, Central Sensitization Inventory-9, and MEP. In measure of MEP, knee pain was scored using a numerical rating scale (NRS, 0-10) before and every minute during a 6-minute walking test (6MWT), and the MEP index was defined as the change in NRS pain score from baseline to the sixth minute of walking.</p><p><strong>Result: </strong>On average, pain during 6MWT increased by 1.4 ± 1.5 points on the NRS relative to baseline, with 30.2% of patients showing an increase of 2 points or more. The hierarchical linear regression analysis revealed that Hoffa synovitis, pressure pain threshold at the forearm, and temporal summation of pain at the knee were associated with the MEP index.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>The findings of this study suggest that both synovitis and neural mechanisms, such as pain sensitization, play a role in the development of MEP in KOA.</p>","PeriodicalId":52189,"journal":{"name":"Pain Reports","volume":"9 1","pages":"e1124"},"PeriodicalIF":3.4,"publicationDate":"2024-01-24","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC10810602/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"139565289","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pain ReportsPub Date : 2024-01-17eCollection Date: 2024-01-01DOI: 10.1097/PR9.0000000000001126
Roger B Fillingim
{"title":"Redefining sensitization could be a sensitive issue.","authors":"Roger B Fillingim","doi":"10.1097/PR9.0000000000001126","DOIUrl":"10.1097/PR9.0000000000001126","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p><b>Commentary on:</b> van den Broeke EN, Crombez G, Vlaeyen JWS. Reconceptualizing sensitization in pain: back to basics. PAIN Reports 2024;9:e1125.</p>","PeriodicalId":52189,"journal":{"name":"Pain Reports","volume":"9 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":3.4,"publicationDate":"2024-01-17","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC10796134/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"139492930","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pain ReportsPub Date : 2024-01-15eCollection Date: 2024-01-01DOI: 10.1097/PR9.0000000000001125
Emanuel N van den Broeke, Geert Crombez, Johan W S Vlaeyen
{"title":"Reconceptualizing sensitization in pain: back to basics.","authors":"Emanuel N van den Broeke, Geert Crombez, Johan W S Vlaeyen","doi":"10.1097/PR9.0000000000001125","DOIUrl":"10.1097/PR9.0000000000001125","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Fillingim RB. Redefining sensitization could be a sensitive issue. PAIN Rep 2024;9:e1126.</p>","PeriodicalId":52189,"journal":{"name":"Pain Reports","volume":"9 1","pages":"e1125"},"PeriodicalIF":3.4,"publicationDate":"2024-01-15","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC10796139/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"139492919","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pain ReportsPub Date : 2024-01-01DOI: 10.1097/PR9.0000000000001122
Jenna M. Wilson, S. Meints, Robert R. Edwards, Jolin B. Yamin, David J. Moore
{"title":"The role of sleep disturbance in reduced accuracy on a divided attention task among patients with fibromyalgia","authors":"Jenna M. Wilson, S. Meints, Robert R. Edwards, Jolin B. Yamin, David J. Moore","doi":"10.1097/PR9.0000000000001122","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1097/PR9.0000000000001122","url":null,"abstract":"Patients with fibromyalgia reported greater sleep disturbance, which contributed to reduced accuracy on a divided attention task compared with healthy controls. Abstract Introduction: Patients with fibromyalgia show impaired cognitive performance compared with healthy, pain-free controls. Sleep disturbance, anxiety, and depression are highly prevalent among patients with fibromyalgia, and each is associated with impaired cognitive performance. Yet, limited work has explored whether psychosocial factors contribute to group differences in cognitive performance. Objectives: This secondary data analysis investigated differences in cognitive performance between patients with fibromyalgia and healthy controls, and whether psychosocial factors accounted for these differences. Methods: Adults with fibromyalgia (N = 24) and healthy, pain-free controls (N = 26) completed 2 cognitive tasks and the Patient-Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System sleep disturbance, anxiety, and depression short forms. Independent samples t tests were used to test for differences in cognitive performance between patients with fibromyalgia and healthy controls. Pearson correlations were conducted to examine associations between psychosocial factors and cognitive performance. Psychosocial factors significantly related to cognitive performance were explored as potential mediators of group differences in cognitive performance. Results: Patients with fibromyalgia demonstrated poorer accuracy for divided attention compared with healthy controls, and sleep disturbance mediated this group difference. On the attentional switching task, healthy controls showed a greater switch-cost for accuracy compared with patients with fibromyalgia, but there was no group difference in reaction time. Anxiety and depression were not related to cognitive performance. Conclusion: We found that patients with fibromyalgia reported greater sleep disturbance and, in turn, had poorer accuracy on the divided attention task. Sleep disturbance is modifiable with behavioral interventions, such as cognitive behavioral therapy, and may be a target for improving sleep quality and cognitive performance among patients with fibromyalgia.","PeriodicalId":52189,"journal":{"name":"Pain Reports","volume":"19 18","pages":"e1"},"PeriodicalIF":4.8,"publicationDate":"2024-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"139455902","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pain ReportsPub Date : 2023-12-26eCollection Date: 2023-12-01DOI: 10.1097/PR9.0000000000001118
Felicitas A Huber, Rachel Carpenter, Burel R Goodin, Stephen Bruehl, Cynthia Karlson, Uma Rao, Kerry Kinney, Subodh Nag, Matthew C Morris
{"title":"Physical activity, sitting time, and thermal quantitative sensory testing responses in African Americans.","authors":"Felicitas A Huber, Rachel Carpenter, Burel R Goodin, Stephen Bruehl, Cynthia Karlson, Uma Rao, Kerry Kinney, Subodh Nag, Matthew C Morris","doi":"10.1097/PR9.0000000000001118","DOIUrl":"10.1097/PR9.0000000000001118","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Introduction: </strong>Prior research suggests that African Americans (AAs) have more frequent, intense, and debilitating pain and functional disability compared with non-Hispanic Whites (NHWs). Potential contributing factors to this disparity are physical activity and sedentary behavior, given that AAs are less physically active, and physical activity is associated with antinociception (whereas sedentary behavior is linked to pronociception). However, impact of these factors on pain processing has largely been unexplored in AAs, especially before chronic pain onset.</p><p><strong>Objective: </strong>This study examined relationships between physical activity, sedentary behavior (sitting time), and laboratory measures of pain and pain modulation in adult AAs. These included heat pain threshold and tolerance, temporal summation of pain (TSP, a marker of central sensitization), and conditioned pain modulation (CPM, a marker of descending pain inhibition).</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>Multiple regressions were conducted to examine the effects of physical activity and sitting time on heat threshold and tolerance. Multilevel models were conducted to assess the relationship between physical activity, sitting time, and temporal summation of pain. Additional multilevel models were conducted to assess the relationship between physical activity, sitting time, and conditioned pain modulation.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Higher level of physical activity, but not sitting time, was associated with reduced TSP slopes. Neither physical activity nor sitting time was associated with CPM slopes. No significant relationships between physical activity or sitting time and heat pain threshold or tolerance were detected.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>These findings suggest that physical activity is associated with reduced TSP, an effect which may be driven by reduced spinal hyperexcitability in more active individuals. Thus, structural and individual interventions designed to increase physical activity in healthy, young AAs may be able to promote antinociceptive processes (ie, reduced TSP/reduced pain facilitation) potentially protective against chronic pain.</p>","PeriodicalId":52189,"journal":{"name":"Pain Reports","volume":"8 6","pages":"e1118"},"PeriodicalIF":4.8,"publicationDate":"2023-12-26","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC10752487/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"139049768","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}