PHYSICAL EXERCISE IMPACTS CENTRAL SENSITIZATION, PAIN AND PSYCHOSOCIAL FACTORS IN INDIVIDUALS WITH CHRONIC PAIN - SYSTEMATIC REVIEW WITH META-ANALYSIS

• DOI: https://doi.org/10.22533/at.ed.01596626110512

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• Keywords: Chronic Pain; Physical Exercise; Pain Threshold; Central Sensitization.

• Abstract: This systematic review aims to investigate the impacts of physical exercise in pain thresholds, perception and psychosocial factors in individuals with chronic pain. It was registered in PROSPERO (CRD420250655626), following the guidelines of the PRISMA statement and the Cochrane Handbook for Systematic Reviews of Interventions. The search strategy was conducted in 8 different databases. Risk of bias, meta-analysis and evidence certainty assessment were performed. Overall, 24 studies were included in this review. The RoB assessment was judged as high for most of the records. Overall analysis of pressure pain threshold (PPT), considering a follow-up time until one week (SMD = 0.5587; 95% CI = 0.2244 to 0.8929, p=0.0011) and from 1 to 8 weeks (SMD=0.9988; 95% CI=0.6829 to 1.3147, p=0.0001) was statistically significant. Overall analysis of pain perception, considering follow-up times with more than 8 weeks (SMD=-2.9377; 95% CI=-5.1021 to -0.7732, p=0.0078) were statistically significant. Analysis of psychosocial markers such as disability and function, fatigue and sleep, were statistically significant as well. The certainty of evidence ranged from very low to low. It was concluded that physical exercise showed promising and significant results in central sensitization; pain perception; disability, function, sleep and fatigue in chronic pain management.