Diffuse central sensitization in low back patients: A secondary analysis of cross-sectional data including tender point examination and magnetic resonance imaging of the lumbar spine

This study aimed to show whether tender point (TP) examination, used as a test for diffuse central sensitization, may add valuable information to clinical assessment of patients with low back pain (LBP). This was a cross-sectional study including 141 patients with LBP on sick leave. Baseline measures comprised back pain, leg pain intensity, and LBP examination including TP examination. Degenerative MRI findings were assessed in a standardized manner and blinded for clinical data. The number of TPs was analyzed in relation to sex, widespread pain, radiculopathy, pain duration, and degenerative changes on MRI. The number of TPs was positively associated with the female sex, widespread pain, and pain duration. It was negatively associated with degenerative manifestations and radiculopathy, the latter displaying a low level similar to that of the general population. A positive association between back pain intensity and TPs was present in patients with and without radiculopathy and in patients with substantial degenerative changes. Men with>7–8 TPs and women with>10–11 TPs had more back pain and similar or fewer degenerative changes than patients with few TPs (
Source: Medicine - Category: Internal Medicine Tags: Research Article: Observational Study Source Type: research