Photo Credit: Libre de droit

The following is a summary of “Association between perception of harm and valence of shoulder movement images with disability levels related to chronic shoulder pain,” published in the July 2024 issue of Pain by Tozzo et al.

A recent study underscores the need to explore how pain perception and emotional responses to movement visuals contribute to shoulder pain-related disability.

Researchers conducted a retrospective study exploring the relationship between harm perception and the emotional response to images of shoulder movements and the impact on disability levels in individuals with chronic shoulder pain (CSP).

They recruited 42 participants suffering from CSP, showed 58 images of shoulder movements, and assessed each for arousal and emotional valence using the self-assessment manikin. Participants rated each image’s avoidance, fear, and perceived harm levels on a numerical scale. Disability levels and pain catastrophizing were measured using the Shoulder Pain and Disability Index (SPADI) and the Pain Catastrophizing Scale (PCS). A direct acyclic graph (DAG) was employed, and multiple linear regression analysis was performed with shoulder disability as the dependent variable and perceptions of valence and harm as independent variables, adjusting for catastrophizing and arousal.

The regression analysis produced a significant model (F_4,37= 11.44; adjusted R²= 0.547; P<0.01). Perceived harm from shoulder movements was significantly linked to disability levels (β = 0.11; P<0.001; 95% CI = 5.6-11.8), while valence was not significantly associated (β = 0.26; P=0.15; 95% CI = 1.7-10.8).

Investigators concluded that perceiving shoulder movements as harmful was linked to greater disability.

Source: journals.lww.com/pain/abstract/9900/association_between_perception_of_harm_and_valence.661.aspx