• NunesAlexandre Maurício PassosAMP0000-0002-7450-3933Biomechanics and Functional Morphology Laboratory, CIPER, Faculdade de Motricidade Humana da Universidade de Lisboa, Cruz-Quebrada, Portugal.Escola Superior de Saúde Jean Piaget do Algarve, Silves, Portu, MoitaJoão Paulo Azinheira MartinsJPAMEscola Superior de Saúde Atlântica, Barcarena, Portugal., EspanhaMaria Margarida Marques RebeloMMMRBiomechanics and Functional Morphology Laboratory, CIPER, Faculdade de Motricidade Humana da Universidade de Lisboa, Cruz-Quebrada, Portugal., Kristian Kjaer Petersen, and Lars Arendt-Nielsen.
• Biomechanics and Functional Morphology Laboratory, CIPER, Faculdade de Motricidade Humana da Universidade de Lisboa, Cruz-Quebrada, Portugal.
• Pain Pract. 2021 Sep 1; 21 (7): 799-814.

ObjectivesThe purpose of this study was to (a) compare pressure pain threshold (PPT) values between office workers with chronic neck pain and asymptomatic controls; (b) establish reference PPT values in chronic neck pain; and (c) evaluate associations between PPTs and pain intensity, and disability.MethodsSeven English/Portuguese databases were searched for relevant literature. Studies investigating adult office workers (age >18 years) with chronic neck pain were included if PPTs were an outcome. The risk of bias was assessed using the Downs and Black checklist. Meta-analysis was conducted if a cluster contained at least two studies reporting the same PPTs.ResultsTen high quality, two low quality, and one poor quality studies were included. The meta-analysis revealed decreased PPT values in the upper trapezius, extensor carpi ulnaris, and tibialis anterior in office workers with chronic neck pain when compared with healthy workers, without a statistical difference (p > 0.05). The PPT reference value in the upper trapezius was 263 kPa (95% confidence interval [CI] = 236.35 to 289.70), and 365 kPa (95% CI = 316.66 to 415.12) for the tibialis anterior in office workers with chronic neck pain. No correlations were found between the upper trapezius PPT and pain intensity and disability.ConclusionThis meta-analysis found that all the PPT measurements were not significantly reduced in office workers with chronic neck pain compared with healthy workers. These assumptions were based on a small sample of existing studies, and therefore further studies are necessary to quantify the differences in PPTs. Hypersensitivity PPT reference values are proposed for localized and extrasegmental sites in office workers with chronic neck pain.© 2021 World Institute of Pain.

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