Pressure Pain Threshold Protocols With Pressure Algometer in Patients With Low Back Pain: A Systematic Review With...

Area of Science:

• Pain Management
• Musculoskeletal Research
• Clinical Assessment

Background:

• Pressure pain threshold (PPT) is a key metric for pain assessment.
• Inconsistent methodologies in PPT measurement hinder comparability across studies.
• Standardized assessment protocols are needed, especially for low back pain (LBP).

Purpose of the Study:

• To systematically review and analyze the methodologies used for assessing PPT in LBP patients.
• To identify commonly used body sites and protocols for PPT measurement.
• To highlight inconsistencies and potential areas for standardization.

Main Methods:

• Systematic screening of six databases up to May 2023.
• Eligibility screening and quality appraisal of included studies.
• Meta-analysis comparing PPT in individuals with and without LBP.

Main Results:

• Included 5 studies on acute LBP and 43 on chronic LBP.
• No significant differences in PPT were found for paraspinal, piriformis, or quadratus lumborum muscles between pain and no-pain groups.
• Paraspinal and gluteal muscles were most frequently assessed.

Conclusions:

• The assessment of PPT in LBP lacks a consistent protocol.
• Despite variations, studies on chronic LBP often used similar approaches for measurement frequency and pressure increase.
• Further standardization is recommended for reliable PPT assessment in LBP research.