The Clinical journal of pain
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Epidemiologic, clinical, and experimental evidence points to sex differences in musculoskeletal pain. Adult women more often have musculoskeletal problems than do men. ⋯ The authors review evidence showing that mechanically induced pressure is more likely to show sex differences than other noxious stimuli and to discriminate between individuals suffering from musculoskeletal pain and matched controls. The authors suggest that a state of increased pain sensitivity, with a peripheral or central origin, predisposes individuals to chronic muscle pain conditions, and that there are sex differences in the operation of these mechanisms; women are vulnerable to the development and maintenance of musculoskeletal pain conditions.
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The tendency to "catastrophize" during painful stimulation contributes to more intense pain experience and increased emotional distress. Catastrophizing has been broadly conceived as an exaggerated negative "mental set" brought to bear during painful experiences. Although findings have been consistent in showing a relation between catastrophizing and pain, research in this area has proceeded in the relative absence of a guiding theoretical framework. ⋯ The article evaluates the explanatory power of a schema activation model, an appraisal model, an attention model, and a communal coping model of pain perception. It is suggested that catastrophizing might best be viewed from the perspective of hierarchical levels of analysis, where social factors and social goals may play a role in the development and maintenance of catastrophizing, whereas appraisal-related processes may point to the mechanisms that link catastrophizing to pain experience. Directions for future research are suggested.
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Clinical Trial
Temporomandibular joint pain analgesia by linearly polarized near-infrared irradiation.
The objective of this study was to describe a pilot treatment of temporomandibular joint pain by linearly polarized near-infrared irradiation. ⋯ This pilot treatment using the Super Lizer provided relief from temporomandibular pain over a period of 4 weeks.