Sensory and Psychological Factors Predict Exercise-Induced Shoulder Injury Responses in a High-Risk Phenotype Cohort

Area of Science:

• Pain research
• Genetics
• Psychology

Background:

• Previous research identified a high-risk phenotype for shoulder pain based on catechol-O-methyltransferase gene Single Nucleotide Polymorphism (SNP) rs6269 and pain catastrophizing scores.
• Understanding predictors of heightened pain responses in this high-risk group is crucial for targeted interventions.

Purpose of the Study:

• To identify sensory and psychological predictors of pain responses following exercise-induced shoulder injury in a high-risk phenotype.
• To assess the predictive value of these measures for pain intensity, disability, and strength.

Main Methods:

• Healthy participants (N=131) with the SNP rs6269 and high pain catastrophizing scores underwent baseline sensory and psychological testing.
• A shoulder fatigue protocol induced muscle injury, with outcomes assessed 24 hours post-injury.
• Predictive models were developed using demographic, sensory, and psychological variables.

Main Results:

• Shoulder disability showed the highest variance explained (R²=0.20 in the full model).
• Key predictors included 1st pulse heat pain sensitivity (movement-evoked pain, intensity), pressure pain threshold (disability), fear of pain (movement-evoked pain, disability), and depressive symptoms (strength).

Conclusions:

• Specific pain sensitivity (heat, pressure) and psychological measures (fear of pain, depressive symptoms) enhance the prediction of shoulder outcomes in a high-risk phenotype.
• These findings suggest potential prognostic value for targeted interventions and require validation in clinical cohorts.