title: Divergent sensory phenotypes in nonspecific arm pain: comparisons with cervical radiculopathy.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To investigate whether distinct sensory phenotypes were identifiable in individuals with nonspecific arm pain (NSAP) and whether these differed from those in people with cervical radiculopathy. A secondary question considered whether the frequency of features of neuropathic pain, kinesiophobia, high pain ratings, hyperalgesia, and allodynia differed according to subgroups of sensory phenotypes.
  
  
  METHODS
  Cross-sectional study.
  
  
  METHODS
  Higher education institution.
  
  
  METHODS
  Forty office workers with NSAP, 17 people with cervical radiculopathy, and 40 age- and sex-matched healthy controls (N=97).
  
  
  METHODS
  Not applicable.
  
  
  METHODS
  Participants were assessed using quantitative sensory testing (QST) comprising thermal and vibration detection thresholds and thermal and pressure pain thresholds; clinical examination; and relevant questionnaires. Sensory phenotypes were identified for each individual in the patient groups using z-score transformation of the QST data.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Individuals with NSAP and cervical radiculopathy present with a spectrum of sensory abnormalities; a dominant sensory phenotype was not identifiable in individuals with NSAP. No distinct pattern between clinical features and questionnaire results across sensory phenotypes was identified in either group.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  When considering sensory phenotypes, neither individuals with NSAP nor individuals with cervical radiculopathy should be considered homogeneous. Therefore, people with either condition may warrant different intervention approaches according to their individual sensory phenotype. Issues relating to the clinical identification of sensory hypersensitivity and the validity of QST are highlighted.
authors.affiliation: University College Dublin School of Public Health, Physiotherapy and Population Science, University College Dublin, Belfield, Dublin, Ireland; Discipline of Physiotherapy, Faculty of Health Sciences, The University of Sydney, Lidcombe, New South Wales, Australia. Electronic address: niamh.moloney@sydney.edu.au.
authors.forename: Niamh
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Moloney
authors.affiliation: School of Physiotherapy, Curtin University of Technology, Perth, Western Australia, Australia; Manual Concepts, Booragoon, Western Australia, Australia.
authors.forename: Toby
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Hall
authors.affiliation: University College Dublin School of Public Health, Physiotherapy and Population Science, University College Dublin, Belfield, Dublin, Ireland.
authors.forename: Catherine
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Doody
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001132:Arm; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006358:Hot Temperature; D006801:Humans; D006930:Hyperalgesia / Q000503:physiopathology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010147:Pain Measurement; D017288:Pain Threshold / Q000502:physiology*; D010641:Phenotype; D010698:Phobic Disorders / Q000503:physiopathology; D011312:Pressure; D011843:Radiculopathy / Q000503:physiopathology*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014732:Vibration
keywords: Musculoskeletal pain; Pain threshold; Radiculopathy, cervical; Rehabilitation; Repetitive strain injury; Sensory thresholds