Sensory hyperalgesia is characteristic of nonspecific arm pain: A comparison with cervical radiculopathy and pain-free controls
Access Status
Authors
Date
2013Type
Metadata
Show full item recordCitation
Source Title
ISSN
Remarks
This is a non-final version of an article published in final form in Moloney, Niamh and Hall, Toby and Doody, Catherine. 2013. Sensory hyperalgesia is characteristic of nonspecific arm pain: A comparison with cervical radiculopathy and pain-free controls. Clinical Journal of Pain. 29 (11): pp. 948-956.
Collection
Abstract
Objectives: Nonspecific arm pain (NSAP) is a common clinical entity, the pathophysiological mechanisms of which are poorly understood. The purpose of this study was to investigate sensory profiles in individuals with nonspecific arm pain compared with cervical radiculopathy and pain-free controls. Methods: Forty office workers with NSAP, 17 people with cervical radiculopathy, and 40 pain-free controls were assessed by means of quantitative sensory testing (thermal and vibration detection thresholds; thermal and pressure pain thresholds), tests for neural tissue sensitivity, and questionnaires. Between-group comparisons were conducted using Kruskal-Wallis tests. An exploratory factor analysis was used to determine characteristic features in NSAP. Results: Both patient groups demonstrated cold and pressure pain sensitivity (P<0.003; P<0.05) and neural tissue sensitivity (P<0.001). The NSAP group also demonstrated heat pain sensitivity (P<0.001). Both patient groups demonstrated hypoaesthesia to vibration thresholds (P<0.05), whereas thermal hypoaesthesia was only evident in the cervical radiculopathy group (P<0.05). Exploratory factor analysis revealed pressure and thermal pain sensitivity as the key characteristics of this NSAP group. Discussion: Sensory profiles in NSAP and cervical radiculopathy differ. NSAP is characterized by widespread sensitivity to thermal and pressure pain in the absence of thermal hypoaesthesia, whereas cervical radiculopathy is characterized by the presence of thermal and vibratory hypoaesthesia as well as more localized cold and pressure pain sensitivity. The identification of widespread sensory hypersensitivity in NSAP has important implications for clinical decision making.
Related items
Showing items related by title, author, creator and subject.
-
Moloney, N.; Hall, Toby; Doody, C. (2015)Objectives: To investigate whether distinct sensory phenotypes were identifiable in individuals with nonspecific arm pain (NSAP) and whether these differed from those in people with cervical radiculopathy. A secondary ...
-
Tampin, Brigitte; Slater, Helen; Hall, Toby; Lee, G.; Briffa, Kathy (2012)The aim of this study was to establish the somatosensory profiles of patients with cervical radiculopathy and patients with nonspecific neck–arm pain associated with heightened nerve mechanosensitivity (NSNAP). Sensory ...
-
Moloney, N.; Hall, Toby; Doody, C. (2010)Background: Work related upper limb disorders constitute 45% of all occupational diseases and are a significant public health problem. A subgroup, non specific arm pain (NSAP), remains elusive in terms of understanding ...