Pressure pain sensitivity maps, self-reported musculoskeletal disorders and sickness absence among cleaners

Abstract

Background: Pressure pain threshold mapping is a valuable method for the identification of distinct zones of mechanical pain sensitivity. Such approach was applied for the first time in relation to self-reported musculoskeletal disorders and long-term sickness absence (LTSA) within the last 12 months among cleaners.

Methods: About 29 cleaners filled out a self-administered questionnaire regarding health, work-related measures and musculoskeletal disorders. Subsequently, PPTs were measured at (1) tibialis anterior (control location, 1 point), (2) the neck-shoulder (48 points) and (3) the low back regions (27 points). LTSA was defined as ten or more consecutive workdays with sick leave.

Results: The PPT maps revealed the spatial heterogeneity in mechanical sensitivity among cleaners. The level of pain in the neck and dominant shoulder and upper back within the last 7 days correlated negatively with most PPT measurements. The group of cleaners with LTSA had significantly lower levels of PPT (large effects) in the neck-shoulder region than the cleaners with no LTSA (P < 0.05; partial η(2) = 0.19 in average).

Conclusions: The present study investigated pressure pain topographical maps from the neck-shoulder and low back region in cleaners. Cleaners with LTSA the last year exhibited mechanical hyperalgesia as depicted by lower PPT in the neck-shoulder compared with cleaners without LTSA. More studies assessing the relation between PPT maps, self-reported musculoskeletal disorders and sickness absence are warranted.