Pathophysiology of pain in locomotive syndrome, sarcopenia, and frailty: cluster analysis of central pain modulatory functions

2023 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 21K11327
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (C)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Section: 一般
• Review Section: Basic Section 59010:Rehabilitation science-related
• Research Institution: Kobe Gakuin University
• Principal Investigator: MATSUBARA TAKAKO 神戸学院大学, 総合リハビリテーション学部, 教授 (30294234)
• Project Period (FY): 2021-04-01 – 2024-03-31
• Keywords: 疼痛 / ロコモティブシンドローム（ロコモ） / サルコペニア / フレイル / 中枢性疼痛調節能 / 体組成 / 筋量 / 骨密度

Outline of Final Research Achievements

In this study, central pain modulatory functions (pain sensitivity, central sensitization, and central pain inhibitory function) were measured through quantitative sensory testing in both young healthy individuals and patients with chronic pain. The relationship between these functions and the degree of locomotive syndrome, sarcopenia, and frailty was analyzed. Results indicated that in healthy individuals, particularly males, a decrease in skeletal muscle mass and an increase in body fat percentage might lead to a decline in pain modulatory functions. Among chronic pain patients, especially those with musculoskeletal pain, a decrease in skeletal muscle mass was suggested to potentially impair pain modulatory functions. These findings suggest that sarcopenia, characterized by reduced skeletal muscle mass, may act as a modulating factor for the central pain modulatory system in both men and women.

Free Research Field

疼痛学

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

慢性疼痛はロコモティブシンドローム（ロコモ），サルコペニア，フレイルの進行を加速させるリスクファクターとされているにもかかわらず，これまでロコモ・サルコペニア・フレイル疼痛の病態について検証した報告はほとんどない。本研究によって，慢性疼痛の病態のひとつである中枢性疼痛調節能の異常と体組成及びロコモ・サルコペニア・フレイル度との関係性が明らかとなること，さらに，ロコモ・サルコペニア・フレイル疼痛の病態に対する包括的な治療法ならびに予防法の開発につながることは，学術的のみならず社会的意義が非常に大きい。