Characterizing Fatigue Subtypes in Adolescents with Chronic Musculoskeletal Pain and Pain-Free Controls

Area of Science:

• Pediatric Rheumatology
• Pain Medicine
• Adolescent Health

Background:

• General, sleep-related, and cognitive fatigue are common in adults with chronic musculoskeletal (MSK) pain.
• Little is known about these fatigue subtypes in pediatric MSK pain populations.

Purpose of the Study:

• Compare fatigue subtypes in adolescents with and without chronic MSK pain.
• Examine associations between fatigue subtypes and pain/functional impact.
• Explore qualitative experiences of fatigue in adolescents with chronic MSK pain.

Main Methods:

• Adolescents (12-17 years) with chronic MSK pain (n=26) and pain-free controls (n=26) completed validated self-report measures.
• Participants underwent an experimental pain tolerance task (cold water immersion).
• Qualitative fatigue descriptions were collected from the pain group.

Main Results:

• Adolescents with chronic MSK pain reported significantly higher general, sleep-related, and cognitive fatigue than controls (p < 0.001).
• Fatigue subtypes correlated with clinical pain and its impact (r=0.43-0.84), but not experimental pain measures (p > 0.05).
• Qualitative data revealed negative implications of fatigue, especially when long-lasting.

Conclusions:

• Fatigue subtypes are prevalent and significantly impact adolescents with chronic MSK pain.
• Recognizing fatigue as a disabling symptom is crucial for multidisciplinary pediatric MSK pain management.