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Chronic pain has a small influence and mood has no influence on vibrotactile perception thresholds among working women
Author(s) -
Sandén Helena,
Wallin B. Gunnar,
Hagberg Mats
Publication year - 2010
Publication title -
muscle and nerve
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.025
H-Index - 145
eISSN - 1097-4598
pISSN - 0148-639X
DOI - 10.1002/mus.21697
Subject(s) - chronic pain , medicine , mood , physical medicine and rehabilitation , upper limb , pain catastrophizing , audiology , psychology , physical therapy , clinical psychology
In chronic diffuse upper limb pain physical abnormalities are usually absent. The aims of our study were to investigate: (1) the function of somatosensory pathways and (2) the influence of mood on vibration perception. Measurements were made of: (i) vibrotactile perception thresholds (VPTs) and nerve conduction in working women with ( n = 35) and without ( n = 65) chronic diffuse upper limb pain, and (ii) perceived stress and energy using a two‐dimensional mood adjective checklist. The groups did not differ in any nerve conduction measurements. Women with chronic pain had raised VPTs in the radial and ulnar nerve areas, but not in the median nerve area. Neither perceived stress nor energy appeared to influence the VPT. Increases of VPTs in chronic diffuse upper limb pain may be due to peripheral nerve affliction, but our findings support the idea that they may also be secondary to pain and may be related to a central nervous mechanism. Muscle Nerve, 2010