Relationship between pressure and thermal pain threshold, pain intensity, catastrophizing, disability, and skin temperature over myofascial trigger point in individuals with neck pain

Dibai Filho, Almir Vieira; Oliveira, Alessandra Kelly de; Oliveira, Matheus Pereira; Bevilaqua-Grossi, Débora; Guirro, Rinaldo Roberto de Jesus

doi:10.1590/1806-9282.20210731

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Revista da Associação Médica Brasileira

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Original Article • Rev. Assoc. Med. Bras. 67 (12) • Dec 2021 • https://doi.org/10.1590/1806-9282.20210731 copy

Relationship between pressure and thermal pain threshold, pain intensity, catastrophizing, disability, and skin temperature over myofascial trigger point in individuals with neck pain

Authorship SCIMAGO INSTITUTIONS RANKINGS

SUMMARY

OBJECTIVE:

The objective of the study was to correlate the thermal pain threshold (heat and cold) on myofascial trigger points with measurements of pain and skin temperature in patients with chronic neck pain.

METHODS:

This is a cross-sectional study. We included participants of both genders, aged between 18–45 years, with chronic neck pain (>90 days), and with active bilateral myofascial trigger point centrally located in the upper trapezius muscle. Neck Disability Index, Numerical Rating Scale, Pain-Related Catastrophizing Thoughts Scale, algometry, infrared thermography, and quantitative sensory testing were used for the evaluation.

RESULTS:

A significant, weak, and negative association was observed between pain intensity and heat pain threshold on the myofascial trigger point to the right (rho -0.381, p=0.022) and to the left (rho -0.334, p=0.049), and a significant, weak, and positive association was observed between pain intensity and cold pain threshold on the myofascial trigger point to the right (rho 0.471, p=0.004) and to the left (rho 0.339, p=0.043).

CONCLUSION:

Thermal pain threshold (heat and cold) on myofascial trigger points is associated with pain intensity in individuals with chronic neck pain.

KEYWORDS:
Physical therapy; Myofascial pain syndrome; Muscle

	Mean	SD	Median	1st quartile	3rd quartile
NRS at rest (score)	3.11	1.75	3.00	2.00	4.00
NRS after movements (score)	5.36	1.79	5.50	4.00	7.00
NDI (score)	11.27	4.15	11.00	8.00	14.00
PCTS (score)	1.29	0.92	1.16	0.55	1.88
Right PPT (kg/cm²)	1.64	0.42	1.61	1.35	1.91
Left PPT (kg/cm²)	1.55	0.38	1.46	1.31	1.83
Right ST (°C)	33.24	1.13	33.26	32.31	34.11
Left ST (°C)	33.20	1.20	33.43	32.23	34.01
Right TPT heat (°C)	42.42	3.74	43.11	39.41	45.03
Right TPT cold (°C)	19.73	10.40	24.43	9.09	28.34
Left TPT heat (°C)	42.22	3.69	41.80	38.95	45.26
Left TPT cold (°C)	19.57	9.97	23.40	13.69	28.09

	Right TPT heat (°C)	Right TPT cold (°C)	Left TPT heat (°C)	Left TPT cold (°C)
NRS at rest (score)	rho= -0.381, p=0.022^* * Statistically significant correlation.	rho=0.471, p=0.004^* * Statistically significant correlation.	rho=−0.334, p=0.049^* * Statistically significant correlation.	rho=0.339, p=0.043^* * Statistically significant correlation.
NRS after movements (score)	rho= -0.121, p=0.483	rho=0.298, p=0.077	rho=0.043, p=0.802	rho=0.203, p=0.235
NDI (score)	rho= -0.003, p=0.988	rho=0.071, p=0.680	rho=0.036, p=0.834	rho=0.017, p=0.921
PCTS (score)	r= -0.079, p=0.647	rho=0.291, p=0.085	r=0.025, p=0.886	rho=0.191, p=0.265
Right PPT (kg/cm²)	r=0.105, p=0.541	rho=0.010, p=0.954	r= -0.034, p=0.845	rho=0.119, p=0.448
Left PPT (kg/cm²)	r=0.091, p=0.600	rho=0.033, p=0.805	r= -0.088, p=0.609	rho=0.178, p=0.298
Right ST (°C)	r= -0.009, p=0.957	rho=0.268, p=0.114	r=0.136, p=0.431	rho=0.116, p=0.499
Left ST (°C)	r=0.038, p=0.827	rho=0.218, p=0.201	r=0.228, p=0.181	rho=0.093, p=0.589

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[1] *Corresponding author: rguirro@fmrp.usp.br