Tactile acuity and predominance of central sensitization in subjects with non-specific persistent low back pain

Abstract

Aim: This study aimed to evaluate differences in tactile acuity (TA) in people with non-specific persistent low back pain (NSPLBP) with and without predominant central sensitisation (CS).

Method: An analytical cross-sectional study was conducted with 45 participants divided into three groups: (i) subjects with NSPLBP with predominant CS (n = 14), (ii) subjects with NSPLBP without predominant CS (n = 16) and (iii) subjects without low back pain (n = 15). Using an analogue calliper, TA was measured using the two-point discrimination threshold (TPD) in the three groups, both horizontally and vertically in the painful region. The analysis was based on the comparison of median discrimination thresholds between groups using the Kruskal-Wallis test.

Result: A higher median TPD value was observed in the group with NSPLBP with predominant CS (vertical measurement 37.5 mm; horizontal measurement 52.5 mm) compared to the group with NSPLBP without predominant CS (vertical measurement 32.5 mm; horizontal measurement 33.8 mm) and the group without low back pain (vertical measurement 30 mm; horizontal measurement 27.5 mm) (p < 0.0001), both in vertical and horizontal measurement.

Conclusion: The findings found in this study highlight the need to differentiate patients with NSPLBP with predominant CS when considering therapeutic evaluation as an indirect mechanism for assessing the perceptual function of the primary somatosensory cortex.

Keywords:

• Low back pain
• central nervous system sensitization
• touch perception

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.