Examination of pain threshold and influencing factors in fibromyalgia patients

Aim: This study was conducted to investigate the pressure pain threshold and the factors affecting it in patients with fibromyalgia, to evaluate their relationships with each other, and to compare them with healthy cases. Materials and Methods: In this randomized controlled study, 32 patient with fibromiyalgia (mean age: 46.68 ± 6.29 years), and 32 healthy control (mean age: 44.84 ± 6.91 years) were recruited. Participants were assessed using a demographic evaluation form for demographic characteristics, an algometer for pressure pain threshold assessment and the SH-pain intensity and pain threshold scale, the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HAD) for anxiety and depression assessment, the International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ) for physical activity assessment, the Fibromyalgia Impact Questionnaire (FIQ) for symptom and disease activity assessment, the Central Sensitization Scale (CSS) for central sensitization assessment, the McGill Pain Questionnaire for pain assessment, the widespread pain index (WPI) for widespread pain assessment, and the Smart Eating Test (SET) for nutrition assessment. A significance level of P<0.05 was accepted for all statistical evaluations. Results: Statistically significant differences were found between the experimental and control groups in terms of the threshold pressure for the left and right lower cervical anterior sensitive points, fibromyalgia impact questionnaire score, central sensitization scale score, scores of the first and third sections of the smart nutrition test, and widespread pain index score (p<0.05). Conclusion: We concluded that individuals with fibromyalgia syndrome have lower pressure pain thresholds compared to healthy individuals, indicating the presence of central sensitization, reduced physical activity, and anxiety and depression. Psychological factors and central sensitization were found to be associated with pain in fibromyalgia patients, while nutrition and diet were linked to pain and disease symptoms. Keywords: Anxiety; Fibromyalgia; Nutrition; Pressure Pain Threshold; Physical Activity