Musculoskeletal pain perception and hypertension

Abstract

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Several human studies have shown an inverse relation between pain perception and blood pressure. This study aimed at investigating the association between musculoskeletal pain report and hypertension in a group of workers. METHODS: Using a body diagram with image and intensity scale (1 to 10), 349 workers (243 males and 106 females) were asked about the presence and sensitivity to musculoskeletal pain. All were submitted to blood pressure measurement and diagnosis of hypertension by the occupational physician. RESULTS:One hundred workers (28.7%) have reported some type of musculoskeletal pain and from these 12 were hypertensive and 88 normotensive. There has been no difference in musculoskeletal pain prevalence and sensitivity between hypertensive and normotensive workers. Notwithstanding the lack of significant difference, in average hypertensive workers had higher prevalence (38.7% vs 27.7%) and sensitivity to pain as compared to normotensive workers (2.3±0.8 vs 2.1±0.9, respectively). CONCLUSION:It was not possible to confirm in the group of studied workers literature evidences that hypertensive individuals have lower pain prevalence and sensitivity as compared to normotensive individuals.