Comparison of Pain Intensity and Cervical Range of Motion According to Pressure Pain Sensitivity in Individuals with Myofascial Pain in the Upper Trapezius Muscle

Purpose: This study aimed to investigate the influence of pressure pain hypersensitivity on pain intensity and cervical range of motion (ROM) in individuals with myofascial pain in the upper trapezius muscle.Methods: Thirty-eight participants with myofascial pain in the upper trapezius muscle were included.The participants were divided into two groups: a group with pressure pain hypersensitivity (PPH) (n = 17) and a control group without PPH (n = 21).All participants were evaluated for pain intensity, pressure pain threshold, pressure pain perception, and active ROM of the cervical spine.Results: No significant differences in pain intensity were observed between groups.Moreover, pain intensity showed no or a weak correlation (rho = -0.34,p < 0.05) with pressure pain threshold in both groups.However, the PPH group showed a significant decrease in the extension ROM of the cervical spine compared with the control group (p < 0.05).Furthermore, the PPH group showed a significant decrease in pressure pain threshold of the contralateral healthy side compared with the control group (p < 0.05).In the PPH group, pressure pain perception showed a moderate negative correlation with pressure pain threshold (rho = -0.53,p < 0.05).Conclusion: Individuals with pressure pain sensitivity showed lesser extension ROM of the cervical spine than those without pressure pain sensitivity in myofascial pain of the upper trapezius muscle.Pressure pain sensitivity in the affected upper trapezius muscle may be associated with that of the contralateral healthy side in individuals with myofascial pain.Furthermore, there is no or only a weak correlation between pain intensity and pressure pain threshold; therefore, pressure pain threshold and pain intensity should be assessed when evaluating patients in clinical settings.