Evaluation of Pain Pressure Threshold and Widespread Pain in Chronic Low Back Pain

Abstract

Objective: The purpose of this study was to determine differences in pain pressure threshold (PPT) values between patients with chronic low back pain (CLPB) and healthy people and to also evaluate widespread pain sensitivity by testing PPT in different sites of patients with CLBP. Material and Methods: Seventy subjects with CLBP and 62 healthy controls were included in the study. PPT values were evaluated for a total of 34 points, including 18 tender points defined for fibromyalgia syndrome by the American College of Rheumatology, 12 points for testing of sciatic valleix, and 4 lumbar paravertebral points, in both groups. An electronic pressure algometer was used to measure PPT with a stimulation surface area of 1 cm2. Results: A significantly lower mean PPT was determined for all test sites in the patients with CLBP compared with healthy controls (p=0.001). Conclusion: The study showed that patients with CLBP have significantly lower PPT values at every individual site compared with healthy controls. This result suggests that widespread pain should be taken into account in the evaluation of patients with CLBP. © 2014 by Turkish Society of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation.