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Somatosensory Function and Pain

delete2026-03-01
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PRE
AI
H
Holley, Amy L. *
S
Stoyles, Sydnee
D
Dieckmann, Nathan F.
J
Jessica Heierle
O
O'Brien, Jacqueline R.
R
Robert R. Edwards
P
Palermo, Tonya M.
W
Wilson, Anna C.
DOI:10.1097/AJP.0000000000001353delete
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Abstract

Abstract

En 中文
Objective:Acute musculoskeletal (MSK) injuries are common in youth and prior research has identified somatosensory experiences such as conditioned pain modulation (CPM) as a predictor of the transition from acute to chronic pain. Prior pediatric studies are limited by small samples, single quantitative sensory testing (QST) modalities, and short-term follow-up, so the utility of QST in predicting longer-term pain outcomes following acute injury is unknown. To fill this gap, we examined somatosensory function in the acute pain period as a predictor of pain outcomes over 12 months.Methods:Participants were 226 youth (and a caregiver) taking part in a prospective longitudinal study. Youth completed a QST battery (pain threshold, pain tolerance, temporal summation, and CPM) at baseline (postinjury), and questionnaires assessing pain (average pain, movement-evoked pain; MEP) at 3 time points over 12 months.Results:A subset of youth developed persistent pain (>= 3/0 to 10 NRS) at 3 months (15% to 21% depending on pain measure). Regression models indicated CPM was the sole QST measure that predicted pain intensity and persistence at 3 months (both average and MEP). No QST measures predicted pain outcomes at 12 months. Female sex was associated with pain persistence in multiple models.Discussion:CPM in the acute pain period is a potential marker for short-term pain outcomes. Future research can examine the utility of using QST in predicting pain outcomes in other pediatric pain samples (eg, non-MSK locations, more severe injuries) and can expand assessment of MEP using standardized performance tasks.
Keywords:
pediatric
acute pain
chronic pain
quantitative sensory testing
conditioned pain modulation

Journal

Clinical Journal of Pain cover
Clinical Journal of Pain
IF:
3.1
Papers:
96
Citations:
7.7K

Organization

O
Oregon Health & Science University
Scholars:
2.5W
Papers: 2.1W
Citations: 39