J. Santos1, K. Feldmann1, F. Nascimento2, M. Santos3
1Universidade Paranaense - UNIPAR, Physical Therapy, Toledo, Brazil, 2Reab Plus Fisioterapia, Physical Therapy, Toledo, Brazil, 3Universidade do Oeste Paulista - UNOESTE, Physical Therapy, Presidente Prudente, Brazil
Background: Chronic pain is characterized by a duration of more than three months or longer than the usual recovery period. Pain has become one of the main causes of sick leave, retirement due to illness, insurance pay, absenteeism from work, and low productivity. Many patients with chronic pain by skeletal muscle cause can develop Central Sensitization (CS), which is a phenomenon marked by the malfunction of the descending antinociceptive mechanisms and the increase in the activity of the nociceptive facilitative pathways mediated by the brain.
Purpose: The purpose of this study was to investigate differences in the effects of CS on pain-related symptoms among a sample of Brazilian patients undergoing physical therapy treatment according to gender, religion, marital status, monthly income, and level of education.
Methods: This was an observational cross-sectional study with 49 individuals (female 88% and male 12%) with chronic musculoskeletal pain for more than six months, age 53 ±13 y/o, who underwent physiotherapeutic treatment for pain management at a university facility.
Information such as age, marital status, religion, education, and monthly income was collected. Central Sensitization was assessed by the Central Sensitization Inventory (CSI) which has a score ranging from 0 to 100 points.
Information such as age, marital status, religion, education, and monthly income was collected. Central Sensitization was assessed by the Central Sensitization Inventory (CSI) which has a score ranging from 0 to 100 points.
Results: Results: Women presented higher CS scores (51.2±14) compared to men (36.8±10) (Student's T-test p <0.05). The ANOVA test (p <0.05) demonstrated that illiterate individuals had higher SC scores (67±2) compared to individuals with elementary education (51±13), high school (47±11), undergraduate education (34±10) and graduate education (34±8).
No differences were found in the levels of CS according to religion, marital status, and monthly income.
No differences were found in the levels of CS according to religion, marital status, and monthly income.
Conclusion(s): The results of the present study demonstrated that many patients who attend a physiotherapy service for chronic pain treatment present CS and that women have greater implications than men. Another important finding is that individuals with lower levels of education have higher SC scores.
Implications: CS is a phenomenon that must be managed through a biopsychosocial approach in addition to physical treatment resources and that preventive care with women and individuals with lower levels of education should be intensified.
Funding, acknowledgements: The authors would like to gratefully thank all the patients, PTs and UNIPAR for economic support
Keywords: Pain, Central Sensitization, Muscle skeletal disorders
Topic: Pain & pain management
Did this work require ethics approval? Yes
Institution: Universidade Paranaense - UNIPAR
Committee: Comitê de Ética em Pesquisa envolvendo Seres Humanos - UNIPAR
Ethics number: 114532 2019
All authors, affiliations and abstracts have been published as submitted.
