title: Low pressure pain thresholds are associated with, but does not predispose for, low back pain.
abstract: Chronic pain is often associated with hyperalgesia in cross-sectional studies. In the present study, a random cohort of 40-year-old individuals (n = 264) from the general population was assessed for low back pain (LBP) status and pressure pain threshold (PPT), with follow-up assessment 4 and 8 years later. Low PPT at baseline as a potential risk factor for the development of LBP was investigated longitudinally and the association between LBP and hyperalgesia was studied cross-sectionally at baseline and 8-year follow-up. Generalized (p  < 0.03) and localized pressure hyperalgesia (p < 0.02) was found in participants with long-lasting LBP, but not with recent LBP (p > 0.08). Of the participants without recent or long-lasting LBP, those with a low PPT at baseline (lower 10% percentile) had no increased risk of developing LBP (p > 0.05). The findings indicate that PPT decreases as a consequence of long-lasting pain, whereas a low PPT seems not to constitute a separate risk factor for the development of LBP.
authors.affiliation: Spine Centre of Southern Denmark, Lillebælt Hospital, Institute of Regional Health Services Research, Clinical Locomotion Science Network, University of Southern Denmark, Østre Hougvej 55, 5500 Middelfart, Denmark. soren@oneill.dk
authors.forename: Søren
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: O'Neill
authors.forename: Per
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Kjær
authors.forename: Thomas
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Graven-Nielsen
authors.forename: Claus
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Manniche
authors.forename: Lars
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Arendt-Nielsen
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D059350:Chronic Pain / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000503:physiopathology; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D006930:Hyperalgesia / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000503:physiopathology; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D017116:Low Back Pain / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000503:physiopathology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010147:Pain Measurement; D017288:Pain Threshold / Q000502:physiology*; D010812:Physical Stimulation; D011312:Pressure