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Bilateral mechanical-pain sensitivity over the trigeminal region in patients with chronic mechanical neck pain.
- Source :
-
The journal of pain [J Pain] 2010 Mar; Vol. 11 (3), pp. 256-63. Date of Electronic Publication: 2009 Nov 27. - Publication Year :
- 2010
-
Abstract
- Unlabelled: The aim of this study was to investigate bilateral pressure-pain sensitivity over the trigeminal region, the cervical spine, and the tibialis anterior muscle in patients with mechanical chronic neck pain. Twenty-three patients with neck pain (56% women), aged 20 to 37 years old, and 23 matched controls (aged 20 to 38 years) were included. Pressure pain thresholds (PPTs) were bilaterally assessed over masseter, temporalis, and upper trapezius muscles, the C5-C6 zygapophyseal joint, and the tibialis anterior muscle in a blinded design. The results showed that PPT levels were significantly decreased bilaterally over the masseter, temporalis, and upper trapezius muscles, and also the C5-C6 zygapophyseal joint (P < .001), but not over the tibialis anterior muscle (P = .4) in patients with mechanical chronic neck pain when compared to controls. The magnitude of PPT decreases was greater in the cervical region as compared to the trigeminal region (P < .01). PPTs over the masseter muscles were negatively correlated to both duration of pain symptoms and neck-pain intensity (P < .001). Our findings revealed pressure-pain hyperalgesia in the trigeminal region in patients with mechanical chronic neck pain, suggesting spreading of sensitization to the trigeminal region in this patient population.<br />Perspective: This article reveals the presence of bilateral pressure-pain hypersensitivity in the trigeminal region in patients with idiopathic neck pain, suggesting a sensitization process of the trigemino-cervical nucleus caudalis in this population. This finding has implications for development of management strategies.<br /> (Copyright 2010 American Pain Society. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)
- Subjects :
- Adult
Cervical Vertebrae innervation
Cervical Vertebrae physiopathology
Chronic Disease
Female
Humans
Male
Masticatory Muscles innervation
Masticatory Muscles physiopathology
Mechanoreceptors physiology
Neck Muscles innervation
Neck Muscles physiopathology
Pain Measurement methods
Pain Threshold physiology
Trigeminal Caudal Nucleus physiopathology
Young Adult
Zygapophyseal Joint innervation
Zygapophyseal Joint physiopathology
Hyperalgesia etiology
Hyperalgesia physiopathology
Neck Pain complications
Neck Pain physiopathology
Trigeminal Nerve Diseases etiology
Trigeminal Nerve Diseases physiopathology
Subjects
Details
- Language :
- English
- ISSN :
- 1528-8447
- Volume :
- 11
- Issue :
- 3
- Database :
- MEDLINE
- Journal :
- The journal of pain
- Publication Type :
- Academic Journal
- Accession number :
- 19945351
- Full Text :
- https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jpain.2009.07.003