Pressure Pain Sensitivity Maps of the Neck-Shoulder Region in Breast Cancer Survivors.
The aim of the present study was to report pressure pain sensitivity topographical maps of the frontal and dorsal parts of the shoulder region, and locate the pressure pain sensitive areas in breast cancer survivors compared with matched healthy control subjects.



Twenty-two breast cancer survivors (BCS) and 22 matched control subjects participated. A numeric pain rating scale of the neck-shoulder area and pressure pain thresholds (PPTs) was assessed bilaterally over 28 points in the frontal and dorsal neck-shoulder area. Topographical pain sensitivity maps of the upper trapezius, pectoral, and anterior deltoid areas were computed.



A three-way analysis of variance was carried out to evaluate the differences in PPTs. The BCS reported spontaneous neck pain (mean ± SD 3.6 ± 2.8), pain in the affected shoulder (4.3 ± 2.7), and pain in the non-affected shoulder (0.9 ± 1.8). Additionally, the BCS exhibited bilaterally lower PPTs in all the measurement points as compared with the control subjects (P < 0.05). The PPTs were lower at the superior part of the trapezius muscle (P < 0.001), the musculotendinous insertion, the anterior part of the deltoid muscle (P < 0.001), and the tendon of the pectoral muscle (P < 0.001) as compared with the control subjects.



The results suggest the sensitization processes in the BCS and give preliminary evidence to most sensitive areas in the superior part of the upper trapezius and musculotendinous insertion of the pectoral muscle.
*Department of Physical Therapy, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Granada, Granada, Spain.
Elena
E
Caro-Morán
Department of Physical Therapy, Instituto Biosanitario Granada (IBS.Granada), Instituto Mixto Deporte y Salud (iMUDS), University of Granada, Granada, Spain.
Carolina
C
Fernández-Lao
Department of Nursing, Instituto Biosanitario Granada (IBS. Granada), Instituto Mixto Deporte y Salud (iMUDS), University of Granada, Granada, Spain.
Lourdes
L
Díaz-Rodríguez
Department of Physical Therapy, Instituto Biosanitario Granada (IBS.Granada), Instituto Mixto Deporte y Salud (iMUDS), University of Granada, Granada, Spain.
Irene
I
Cantarero-Villanueva
Physical Activity and Human Performance group, SMI, Department of Health Science and Technology, Aalborg University, Aalborg, Denmark.
Pascal
P
Madeleine
Department of Physical Therapy, Instituto Biosanitario Granada (IBS.Granada), Instituto Mixto Deporte y Salud (iMUDS), University of Granada, Granada, Spain marroyo@ugr.es.
Manuel
M
Arroyo-Morales
D000328:Adult; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000453:epidemiology; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D019547:Neck Pain / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology; D010147:Pain Measurement / Q000379:methods*; D017288:Pain Threshold / Q000502:physiology; D011312:Pressure / Q000009:adverse effects; D020069:Shoulder Pain / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology; D016037:Single-Blind Method; D017741:Survivors
Breast Cancer; Pain; Shoulder