A study exploring the prevalence of Extremity Pain of Spinal Source (EXPOSS)

Area of Science:

• Musculoskeletal medicine
• Pain management
• Spinal diagnostics

Background:

• Isolated extremity pain often leads patients to believe the spine is not the source.
• Accurate diagnosis of pain origin is crucial for effective treatment.

Purpose of the Study:

• To determine the proportion of patients with isolated extremity pain originating from the spine.
• To evaluate the effectiveness of spinal interventions for these patients.

Main Methods:

• A cohort of 369 participants with isolated extremity pain underwent Mechanical Diagnosis and Therapy (MDT) assessment.
• Pain scales and functional indices were recorded pre- and post-intervention.

Main Results:

• 43.5% of participants were identified as having a spinal source for their extremity pain.
• Patients with a spinal source showed significantly improved outcomes compared to those with extremity-focused pain.

Conclusions:

• The spine is a frequent, yet often overlooked, source of isolated extremity pain.
• Screening for spinal involvement in extremity pain is essential for optimal patient management and outcomes.