The Clinical journal of pain
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Chronic neuropathic pain (NP) is a well-known phenomenon, whereas acute neuropathic pain is increasingly recognized. Both are potentially difficult for a nonspecialist to diagnose. The Leeds Assessment of Neuropathic Symptoms and Signs (LANSS) and DN4 scales are screening tools developed to identify chronic NP. We aimed to evaluate and compare their performance in 2 different populations: outpatients with chronic pain, and inpatients with acute postoperative pain. ⋯ Although the LANSS performed better than the DN4 in the chronic population, both tools performed less well than published literature, demonstrating the importance of evaluating screening tools in the proposed patient population. There may be potential for using these questionnaires to identify acute NP.
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To evaluate the properties of the Pain Catastrophizing Scale (PCS) from a Rasch paradigm. ⋯ The results of this secondary analysis suggest that the PCS can be appropriately evaluated as an interval-level scale when the composite 13-item score is considered, as has been standard practice to date. Implications for clinical and research use are discussed.
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Randomized Controlled Trial
Cognitive testing and revision of the pain quality assessment scale.
To revise the Pain Quality Assessment Scale (PQAS) using feedback from patients to further increase its validity. ⋯ testing can be used to improve the understandability of pain measures. The results of cognitive testing with the PQAS indicated that much of the content of the original instructions and items were understandable as written, but that minor changes could be made to make them even clearer to patients with chronic pain. The changes made resulted in a revised PQAS that is more understandable and may therefore be even more useful than with the original PQAS.
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This study examined the effects of exercise-induced muscle damage (EIMD) on the physiological and perceptual responses to 30 minutes of submaximal cycling at 60% of oxygen consumption (VO2 peak). ⋯ These findings indicate the elevations in RPE after EIMD are likely a consequence of the EIMD with the most likely explanation being an increase in localized pain before and during cycling exercise.