Increased central sensitivity is associated with greater shoulder disability in people with musculoskeletal shoulder...

To fully comprehend shoulder pain and disability, a better understanding of the factors that may contribute to chronicity is required, i.e., increased central sensitivity.

To determine the association between increased central sensitivity and shoulder disability whilst accounting for confounding factors. To determine the prevalence of increased central sensitivity in those with musculoskeletal shoulder symptoms.

Cross sectional design collecting data via an online survey. Participants with shoulder symptoms were recruited via social media and through flyer advertisement in Australia.

The Central Sensitivity Inventory and Shoulder Pain and Disability Index were used. Confounding factors included sex, age, socioeconomic status, obesity, psychological distress, sleep quality, physical activity, smoking, ethnicity, and the symptoms of neuropathic pain. The association between increased central sensitivity and shoulder disability was assessed by linear regression whilst adjusting for confounding factors. The percentage of participants with increased central sensitivity was calculated.

In 249 participants with shoulder symptoms, increased central sensitivity was positively associated with greater shoulder disability, either as a categorical (coefficient 5.5, 95 % CI 0.1-11.0, p 0.046) or continuous variable (coefficient 0.2, 95 % CI 0.03-0.50, p 0.025) whilst adjusting for confounding factors. In the sample, 48.2 % of survey respondents met the threshold for having increased central sensitivity.

Increased central sensitivity was positively associated with greater disability even when accounting for multiple confounders in participants with musculoskeletal shoulder symptoms. These findings highlight the importance of considering increased central sensitivity in the clinical management of those with shoulder symptoms.