1. Myofascial pain, widespread pressure hypersensitivity, and hyperalgesia in the face, neck, and shoulder regions, in survivors of head and neck cancer.
- Author
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Ortiz-Comino L, Fernández-Lao C, Castro-Martín E, Lozano-Lozano M, Cantarero-Villanueva I, Arroyo-Morales M, and Martín-Martín L
- Subjects
- Adult, Aged, Case-Control Studies, Face, Facial Pain complications, Female, Humans, Hyperalgesia complications, Male, Middle Aged, Myofascial Pain Syndromes etiology, Neck Pain complications, Pain Threshold, Paraneoplastic Syndromes epidemiology, Shoulder, Shoulder Pain complications, Trigger Points, Cancer Survivors statistics & numerical data, Facial Pain epidemiology, Head and Neck Neoplasms mortality, Head and Neck Neoplasms rehabilitation, Hyperalgesia epidemiology, Myofascial Pain Syndromes epidemiology, Neck Pain epidemiology, Shoulder Pain epidemiology
- Abstract
Purpose: Medical treatment for head and neck cancer may induce the presence of inflammation, pain, and dysfunction. The purpose of the current study was to assess the presence of myofascial trigger points (TrPs) and their relationship with widespread pressure hypersensitivity and hyperalgesia in survivors of head and neck cancer (sHNC)., Methods: TrPs and pressure-pain thresholds (PPTs) were quantified in different muscles/joints in the head and neck of 30 sHNC (59.45 ± 13.13 years) and 28 age- and sex-matched controls (58.11 ± 12.67 years)., Results: The sHNC had more TrPs in all muscles on the affected side (p < 0.05) than did the healthy controls, and in the temporalis, masseter, and suboccipitalis muscles on the unaffected side (p < 0.05). They also had lower PPTs in all places (p < 0.05) except for the temporalis muscle (p = 0.114) and C5-C6 joint (p = 0.977). The intensity of cervical pain correlated positively with the presence of upper trapezius TrPs., Conclusions: sHNC suffering cervical and/or temporomandibular joint pain have multiple active TrPs and experience widespread pressure hypersensitivity and hyperalgesia, suggestive of peripheral and central sensitization.
- Published
- 2020
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