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Abstract
Objectives: The aims of this study were to evaluate the discriminative ability of a body examination in healthy subjects versus patients with long-lasting musculoskeletal pain, and further to compare physical findings in patients with localized versus widespread pain, and between women and men.
Methods: The Global Physiotherapy Examination [GPE-52] was used to evaluate bodily aberrations in 247 patients [159 women, 88 men] with long-lasting musculoskeletal pain. The GPE consists of 52 standardized tests within five main domains: Posture, Respiration, Movement, Muscle, and Skin. Patients were categorized into three subgroups according to pain distribution: pain localized either to the upper or lower body, or widespread pain. For comparison, 104 healthy persons without pain [64 women, 40 men] were also examined.
Results: Significant differences were found between healthy persons and patients within all five main domains, most within the Movement and Muscle domains, least within the Respiration and Skin domains. Patients with widespread pain had significantly higher scores, indicating aberrations, within the Movement and Muscle domains compared to patients with localized pain. Men had higher scores within Posture and Movement, whereas female patients had significantly higher scores within Skin.
Conclusions: Indications were provided that the GPE-52, especially the Movement and Muscle domains, discriminate between patients groups and healthy subjects, and give information about degree of bodily aberrations. Different characteristics were found depending on gender and pain distribution.
