Adults with chronic musculoskeletal pain exhibited a decline in heart rate variability at rest compared to healthy controls, indicating increased sympathetic and decreased parasympathetic modulation.
Systematic Review
Does chronic musculoskeletal pain affect heart rate variability at rest in adults compared to healthy controls?
Adults with chronic musculoskeletal pain appear to have reduced heart rate variability at rest, indicating altered autonomic modulation, though current evidence is limited by heterogeneity and moderate quality.
PURPOSE: The aim of this review was to compare the heart rate variability (HRV) responses at rest of adults with chronic musculoskeletal pain against healthy controls. METHODS: The PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science (Science and Social Science Citation Index), and CINAHL databases were searched, with no date restrictions. Two independent reviewers selected observational studies that characterized the HRV responses at rest in adults with chronic musculoskeletal pain compared with those of healthy controls. Methodological quality was assessed using the Downs and Black checklist. RESULTS: This study followed the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses statement. HRV in adults with chronic musculoskeletal pain was evaluated systematically. Of the 4893 studies screened, 20 of poor-to-moderate quality met the inclusion criteria. Most studies used electrocardiography and at least one time and/or frequency domain index. Studies were found that investigated HRV in adults with temporomandibular disorders, neck pain, whiplash, low back pain, and fibromyalgia. The heterogeneity of the studies in relation to painful conditions, parameters or position for HRV analysis precluded a meta-analysis. In general, these studies seem to show increased sympathetic and decreased parasympathetic modulation in adults with musculoskeletal pain when compared to controls. CONCLUSIONS: Adults with musculoskeletal pain exhibited a decline in HRV compared to controls. However, definitive conclusions cannot be drawn since the evidence is heterogeneous and of moderate quality. Further high-quality research with standardized measurements is needed.
Rampazo et al. (Sun,) conducted a systematic review in Chronic musculoskeletal pain. Chronic musculoskeletal pain vs. Healthy controls was evaluated on Heart rate variability (HRV) responses at rest. Adults with chronic musculoskeletal pain exhibited a decline in heart rate variability at rest compared to healthy controls, indicating increased sympathetic and decreased parasympathetic modulation.
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