PAIN
Volume 137, Issue 2 , Pages 257-265 , 15 July 2008

Quantitative sensory measures distinguish office workers with varying levels of neck pain and disability

  • Venerina Johnston

      Affiliations

    • Division of Physiotherapy, School of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences, Level 7, Therapies Building 84A, The University of Queensland, St. Lucia, Qld 4072, Australia
    • Corresponding Author InformationCorresponding author. Tel.: +61 (0) 7 33467469; fax: +61 (0) 7 33652775.
  • ,
  • Nerina L. Jimmieson

      Affiliations

    • School of Psychology, The University of Queensland, Australia
  • ,
  • Gwendolen Jull

      Affiliations

    • Division of Physiotherapy, School of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences, Level 7, Therapies Building 84A, The University of Queensland, St. Lucia, Qld 4072, Australia
  • ,
  • Tina Souvlis

      Affiliations

    • Division of Physiotherapy, School of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences, Level 7, Therapies Building 84A, The University of Queensland, St. Lucia, Qld 4072, Australia

Received 27 September 2006 ,Revised 8 August 2007 ,Accepted 30 August 2007.

References 

  1. Agho AO, Price JL, Mueller CW. Discriminant validity of measures of job satisfaction, positive affectivity and negative affectivity. J Occup Organ Psych. 1992;65:185–196
  2. Arendt-Nielsen L, Svensson P. Referred muscle pain: basic and clinical findings. Clin J Pain. 2001;17:11–19
  3. Berglund B, Harju E-L, Kosek E, Lindblom U. Quantitative and qualitative perceptual analysis of cold dysesthesia and hyperalgesia in fibromyalgia. Pain. 2002;96:177–187
  4. Bogduk N. The anatomy and pathophysiology of neck pain. Phys Med Rehabil Clin North Am. 2003;14:455–472
  5. Brennum J, Kjeldsen M, Jensen K, Jensen TS. Measurements of human pressure-pain thresholds of fingers and toes. Pain. 1989;38:211–217
  6. Chakour MC, Gibson SJ, Bradbeer M, Helme RD. The effect of age on Adelta- and C-fibre thermal pain perception. Pain. 1996;64:143–152
  7. Chien A, Eliav E, Sterling M. Sensory function in chronic whiplash associated disorders. In Proceedings of the eleventh world congress on pain. Sydney; 2005.
  8. Cohen ML, Arroyo JF, Champion GD, Browne CD. In search of the pathogenesis of refractory cervicobrachial pain syndrome: a deconstruction of the RSI phenomenon. Med J Aust. 1992;156:432–436
  9. Cronbach LJ. Coefficient alpha and the internal structure of tests. Psychometrika. 1951;16:297–334
  10. de Medinaceli L, Hurpeau J-C, Merle M, Begorre H. Cold and post-traumatic pain: modeling of the peripheral nerve message. Biosystems. 1997;43:145–167
  11. Dilley A, Lynn B, Greening J, DeLeon N. Quantitative in vivo studies of median nerve sliding in response to wrist, elbow, shoulder and neck movements. Clin Biomech (Bristol, Avon). 2003;18:899–907
  12. Dilley A, Lynn B, Pang SJ. Pressure and stretch mechanosensitivity of peripheral nerve fibres following local inflammation of the nerve trunk. Pain. 2005;117:462–472
  13. Doezie AM, Freehill AK, Novak CB, Dale AM, Mackinnon SE. Evaluation of cutaneous vibration thresholds in medical transcriptionists. J Hand Surg [Am]. 1997;22:867–872
  14. Eliav E, Benoliel R, Talb M. Inflammation with no axonal damage of the rat saphenous nerve trunk induces ectopic discharge and mechanosensitivity in myelinated axons. Neurosci Lett. 2001;311:49–52
  15. Eliav E, Herzberg U, Ruda MA, Bennett GJ. Neuropathic pain from an experimental neuritis of the rat sciatic nerve. Pain. 1999;83:169–182
  16. Ge H-Y, Madeleine P, Cairns BE, Arendt-Neilsen L. Hypoalgesia in the referred pain areas after bilateral injections of hypertonic saline into the trapezius muscles of men and women: a potential experimental model of gender-specific differences. Clin J Pain. 2006;22:37–44
  17. Gerr F, Letz R. Vibrotactile threshold testing in occupational health. A review of current issues and limitations. Environ Res. 1993;60:145–159
  18. Gracely RH, Lynch SA, Bennett GJ. Painful neuropathy: altered central processing maintained dynamically by peripheral input. Pain. 1992;51:175–194
  19. Graven-Nielsen T, Babenko V, Svensson P, Arendt-Nielsen L. Experimentally induced muscle pain induces hypoalgesia in heterotopic tissues, but not in homotopic deep tissues. Brain Res. 1998;787:203–210
  20. Greening J, Dilley A, Lynn B. In vivo study of nerve movement and mechanosensitivity of the median nerve in whiplash and non-specific arm pain patients. Pain. 2005;115:248–253
  21. Greening J, Lynn B, Leary R. Sensory and autonomic function in the hands of patients with non-specific arm pain (NSAP) and asymptomatic office workers. Pain. 2003;104:275–281
  22. Hagg GM, Astrom A. Load pattern and pressure pain threshold in the upper trapezius muscle and psychosocial factors in medical secretaries with and without shoulder/neck disorders. Int Arch Occup Environ Health. 1997;69:423–432
  23. Helme RD, LeVasseur SA, Gibson SJ. RSI revisited: evidence for psychological and physiological differences from an age, sex and occupation matched control group. Aust N Z J Med. 1992;22:23–29
  24. Hilz MJ, Axelrod FB, Hermann K, Haertl U, Deutsch M, Neundorfer B. Normative values of vibratory perception in 530 children, juveniles and adults aged 3–79years. J Neurol Sci. 1998;159:219–225
  25. Hurtig IM, Raak RI, Kendall SA, Gerdle B, Wahren LK. Quantitative sensory testing in fibromyalgia patients and in healthy subjects: identification of subgroups. Clin J Pain. 2001;17:316–322
  26. Jensen BR, Pilegaard M, Momsen A. Vibrotactile sense and mechanical functional state of the arm and hand among computer users compared with a control group. Int Arch Occup Environ Health. 2002;75:332–340
  27. Jetzer TC. Use of vibration testing in the early evaluation of workers with carpal tunnel syndrome. J Occup Med. 1991;33:117–120
  28. Kilo S, Schmelz M, Koltzenburg M. Different patterns of hyperalgesia induced by experimental inflammation in human skin. Brain. 1994;117:385–396
  29. Koelbaek-Johansen M, Graven-Nielsen T, Schou-Oelsen A, Arendt-Nielsen L. Generalised muscular hyperalgesia in chronic whiplash syndrome. Pain. 1999;83:229–234
  30. Kosek E, Ekholm J, Hansson P. Sensory dysfunction in fibromyalgia patients with implications for pathogenic mechanisms. Pain. 1996;68:375–383
  31. Kosek E, Ordeberg G. Abnormalities of somatosensory perception in patients with painful osteoarthritis normalize following successful treatment. Eur J Pain. 2000;4:229–238
  32. Levoska S. Manual palpation and pain threshold in female office employees with and without neck–shoulder symptoms. Clin J Pain. 1993;9:236–241
  33. Lindblom U. Analysis of abnormal touch, pain and temperature sensations in patients. In:  Boivie J,  Hansson P,  Lindblom U editor. Touch, temperature, and pain in health and disease: mechanisms and assessments. vol. 3:Seattle: IASP Press; 1994;p. 63–84
  34. Lindsell CJ, Griffin MJ. Normative vibrotactile thresholds measured at five European test centres. Int Arch Occup Environ Health. 2003;76:517–528
  35. Lundborg G, Dahlin LB. Anatomy, function, and pathophysiology of peripheral nerves and nerve compression. Hand Clin. 1996;12:185–193
  36. Lundborg G, Dahlin LB, Lundstrom R, Necking LE, Stromberg T. Vibrotactile function of the hand in compression and vibration-induced neuropathy. Sensibility index – a new measure. Scand J Plast Reconstr Surg Hand Surg. 1992;26:275–279
  37. Madeleine P, Lundager B, Voigt M, Arendt-Nielsen L. Sensory manifestations in experimental and work-related chronic neck–shoulder pain. Eur J Pain. 1998;2:251–260
  38. Madeleine P, Lundager B, Voigt M, Arendt-Nielsen L. The effects of neck–shoulder pain development on sensory–motor interactions among female workers in the poultry and fish industries. A prospective study. Int Arch Occup Environ Health. 2003;76:39–49
  39. Mense S. Nociception from skeletal muscle in relation to clinical muscle pain. Pain. 1993;54:241–289
  40. Nakata M, Hagner IM, Jonsson B. Trapezius muscle pressure pain threshold and strain in the neck and shoulder regions during repetitive light work. Scand J Rehabil Med. 1993;25:131–137
  41. Novak CB, Mackinnon SE. Multilevel nerve compression and muscle imbalance in work-related neuromuscular disorders. Am J Ind Med. 2002;41:343–352
  42. Persson A, Hansson G-A, Kalliomaki J, Sjolund B. Increases in local pressure pain thresholds after muscle exertion in women with chronic shoulder pain. Arch Phys Med Rehabil. 2003;84:1515–1522
  43. Pietrobon R, Coeytaux RR, Carey TS, Richardson WJ, DeVillis RF. Standard scales for measurement of functional outcome for cervical pain or dysfunction: a systematic review. Spine. 2002;27:515–522
  44. Punnett L, Bergqvist U. Visual display unit work and upper extremity musculoskeletal disorders. Stockholm: National Institute for Working Life; 1997, pp. 1–173.
  45. Punnett L, Wegman DH. Work-related musculoskeletal disorders: the epidemiologic evidence and the debate. J Electromyogr Kinesiol. 2004;14:13–23
  46. Raja SN, Campbell D, Meyer RA. Evidence for different mechanisms of primary and secondary hyperalgesia following heat injury to the glabrous skin. Brain. 1984;107:1179–1188
  47. Rempel DM, Diao E. Entrapment neuropathies: pathophysiology and pathogenesis. J Electromyogr Kinesiol. 2004;14:71–75
  48. Ren K, Zhuo M, Willis WD. Multiplicity and plasticity of descending modulation of nociception: implications for persistent pain. In Proceedings of the nineth world congress on pain, progress in pain research management, 2000, Seattle.
  49. Rolke R, Baron R, Maier C, Tolle TR, Treede RD, Beyer A, et al. Quantitative sensory testing in the German Research Network on Neuropathic Pain (DFNS): standardized protocol and reference values. Pain. 2006;123:231–243
  50. Schurmann M, Gradl G, Andress HJ, Furst H, Schildberg FW. Assessment of peripheral sympathetic nervous function for diagnosing early post-traumatic complex regional pain syndrome type I. Pain. 1999;80:149–159
  51. Scott D, Jull G, Sterling M. Widespread sensory hypersensitivity is a feature of chronic whiplash-associated disorder but not chronic idiopathic neck pain. Clin J Pain. 2005;21:175–181
  52. Sheather-Reid RB, Cohen ML. Psychophysical evidence for a neuropathic component of chronic neck pain. Pain. 1998;75:341–347
  53. Smith RW, Papadopolous E, Mani R, Cawley MID. Abnormal microvascular responses in lateral epicondylitis. Br J Rheumatol. 1994;33:1166–1168
  54. Spector PE, Fox S, Van Katwyk PT. The role of negative affectivity in employee reactions to job characteristics: bias effect or substantive effect?. J Occup Organ Psych. 1999;72:205–218
  55. Spector PE, Zapf D, Chen PY, Frese M. Why negative affectivity should not be controlled in job stress research: don’t throw out the baby with the bath water. J Organ Behav. 2000;21:79–95
  56. Sterling M. Motor, sensory and psychological impairments following whiplash injury: development and predictive function. Division of Physiotherapy, The University of Queensland, Brisbane; 2003, pp. 1–321.
  57. Sterling M, Jull G, Vicenzino B, Kenardy J. Sensory hypersensitivity occurs soon after whiplash injury and is associated with poor recovery. Pain. 2003;104:509–517
  58. Sterling M, Treleaven J, Edwards S, Jull G. Pressure pain thresholds in chronic whiplash associated disorder: further evidence of altered central pain processing. J Musculoskelet Pain. 2002;10:69–81
  59. Takala EP. Pressure pain threshold on upper trapezius and levator scapulae muscles. Repeatability and relation to subjective symptoms in a working population. Scand J Rehabil Med. 1990;22:63–68
  60. Treede R-D. Peripheral and central mechanisms of cutaneous hyperalgesia. Prog Neurobiol. 1992;38:397–421
  61. Treede R-D, Rolke R, Andrews K, Magerl W. Pain elicited by blunt pressure: neurobiological basis and clinical relevance. Pain. 2002;98:235–240
  62. Vanderween L, Oostendorp RAB, Vaes P, Duquet W. Pressure algometry in manual therapy. Man Ther. 1996;1:258–265
  63. Vasseljen O, Holte KA, Westgaard RH. Shoulder and neck complaints in customer relations: individual risk factors and perceived exposures at work. Ergonomics. 2001;44:355–372
  64. Vasseljen O, Westgaard RH. A case–control study of trapezius muscle activity in office and manual workers with shoulder and neck pain and symptom-free controls. Int Arch Occup Environ Health. 1995;67:11–18
  65. Vernon H. The neck disability index: patient assessment and outcome monitoring in whiplash. J Musculoskelet Pain. 1996;4:95–104
  66. Vernon H, Mior S. The neck disability index: a study of reliability and validity. J Manipulative Physiol Ther. 1991;14:409–415
  67. Watson D, Clark LA. Negative affectivity – the disposition to experience aversive emotional states. Psychol Bull. 1984;96:465–490
  68. Westgaard RH, Jansen T, Jensen C. EMG of neck and shoulder muscles: the relationship between muscle activity and muscle pain in occupational settings. In:  Kumar S,  Mital A editor. Electromyography in ergonomics. London: Taylor and Francis; 1996;p. 227–258
  69. Winkelstein BA. Mechanisms of central sensitization, neuroimmunology & injury biomechanics in persistent pain: implications for musculoskeletal disorders. J Electromyogr Kinesiol. 2004;14:87–93
  70. Wright A, Thurnwald P, O’Callaghan J, Smith J, Vicenzino B. Hyperalgesia in tennis elbow patients. J Musculoskelet Pain. 1994;2:83–97
  71. Ylinen J, Takala E-P, Kautiainen H, Nyk€anen M, H€akkinen A, Pohjolainen T, et al. Association of neck pain, disability and neck pain during maximal effort with neck muscle strength and range of movement in women with chronic non-specific neck pain. Eur J Pain. 2004;8:473–478

PII: S0304-3959(07)00499-X

doi: 10.1016/j.pain.2007.08.037

PAIN
Volume 137, Issue 2 , Pages 257-265 , 15 July 2008