The impact of nociplastic pain features on the response to physical therapy in patients with primary myofascial pain

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Myofascial pain is a common, but poorly understood multifactorial condition. OBJECTIVE: This study analyzed how the degree of central sensitization (nociplastic pain) can impact the response to physical therapy for patients with myofascial pain. METHODS: This prospective, observational cohort study compared pain phenotyping and functional measures in 30 participants with non-acute neck/shoulder girdle primary myofascial pain following 3-months of physical therapy. The Fibromyalgia Survey Questionnaire Score served as a surrogate of central sensitization. RESULTS: All participants demonstrated some benefit from physical therapy; however, those with moderate levels of nociplastic pain features were less likely to have clinically significant improvements on the Neck Disability Index, PEG score, or pain catastrophizing measures. Those with higher levels of nociplastic pain had a similar chance of showing improvement as those with lower levels, except regarding catastrophizing. Significant improvements were independent of the type or amount of therapy received. CONCLUSION: The degree of nociplastic pain in patients with myofascial pain appears to be inversely related to improvements from a peripherally based treatment. This is not to say that individuals with moderate to higher levels of nociplastic pain do not benefit from physical therapy, but they proportionally benefit less.