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Background Several factors such as neck pain intensity, disability, anxiety, depression, female sex, or a previous history of headache are associated with post-whiplash headache. However, the possible role of psychosocial factors contributing to the presence of headache or worsening of headache after a whiplash trauma remains unclear. To address this gap in knowledge, there is the need to assess psychosocial factors concerning headache shortly after a whiplash injury. Objective To evaluate psychological features, pain and disability in people with acute whiplash associated disorders (WAD) and compare these features between those with and without headache. Design Case-control study. Setting A secondary care traumatology center. Methods Forty-seven people with acute WAD were recruited; 28 with headache, and 19 without. All participants completed self-reported questionnaires including Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) for neck pain intensity, the Neck Disability Index (NDI), Pain Catastrophizing Scale (PCS), Tampa Scale Kinesiophobia-11 (TSK-11), and State-Trait Anxiety Inventory. Results Neck pain intensity (P  < .001), neck disability (P  < 0.001), pain catastrophizing (P  < .001), kinesiophobia (P  < .001), and anxiety state (P  = .007) and trait (P  = .05) were higher in those with headache when compared to those without. In addition, high levels of neck pain (P  = .025), moderate levels of neck disability (P  < .001), moderate levels of pain catastrophizing (P  = .015), and moderate (P  = .002) and severe (P  = .016) levels of kinesiophobia were related to the presence of headache. Conclusions The level of neck pain intensity and disability, kinesiophobia, catastrophizing, and anxiety were all greater in people with acute WAD who presented with a headache compared to those without headache. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background. Expanded distribution of pain is considered a sign of central sensitization (CS). The relationship between recording of symptoms and CS in people with knee osteoarthritis (OA) has been poorly investigated. Objective. The aim of this study was to examine whether the area of pain assessed using pain drawings relates to CS and clinical symptoms in people with knee OA. Design. This was a cross-sectional study. Methods. Fifty-three people with knee OA scheduled to undergo primary total knee arthroplasty were studied. All participants completed pain drawings using a novel digital device, completed self-administration questionnaires, and were assessed by quantitative sensory testing. Pain frequency maps were generated separately for women and men. Spearman correlation coefficients were computed to reveal possible correlations between the area of pain and quantitative sensory testing and clinical symptoms. Results. Pain frequency maps revealed enlarged areas of pain, especially in women. Enlarged areas of pain were associated with higher knee pain severity (rs=.325, P<.05) and stiffness (rs=.341, P<.05), lower pressure pain thresholds at the knee (rs= -.306, P<.05) and epicondyle (rs=-.308, P<05), and higher scores with the Central Sensitization Inventory (rs=.456, P<.01). No significant associations were observed between the area of pain and the remaining clinical symptoms and measures of CS. Limitations. Firm conclusions about the predictive role of pain drawings cannot be drawn. Further evaluation of the reliability and validity of pain area extracted from pain drawings in people with knee OA is needed. Conclusion. Expanded distribution of pain was correlated with some measures of CS in individuals with knee OA. Pain drawings may constitute an easy way for the early identification of CS in people with knee OA, but further research is needed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]