Pain Response to Low Intensity Pressure Tied to Cognitive Deficits in Fibromyalgia

However, researchers did find that pain responses to low intensity stimulation (less than 2.25 kg/cm²) were more closely tied to cognitive impairments than responses to more intense stimulation. Moreover, the magnitude of the correlation increased with decreasing stimulus intensity. The investigators explain that, for these patients, relatively low-pressure intensity delivered for five seconds was more painful than a higher pressure that increased and stopped quickly.

Lara C. Pullen, PhD, is a medical writer based in the Chicago area.

Reference

1. alvez-Sánchez CM, Muñoz Ladrón de Guevara C, Montoro CI, et al. Cognitive deficits in fibromyalgia syndrome are associated with pain responses to low intensity pressure stimulation. PLoS One. 2018 Aug 1;13(8):e0201488. eCollection 2018.