Musculoskeletal Pain as a Risk Factor for Poor Dizziness Outcomes: A Longitudinal Study Among Patients With Persistent Vestibular Dizziness.
Unni Moen, Roy Miodini Nilsen, Mari Kalland Knapstad and 5 others
PMID 39804010WHAT IT FOUND
More body pain sites and higher pain intensity predict worse dizziness and disability over 12 months in patients with persistent dizziness.
This link is strongest in those with psychological distress. Screen for widespread pain and mood issues, as these patients recover less.
Key findings
01For each additional pain site, dizziness symptom scores increased by 0.84 points and disability scores by 1.54 points, even after adjusting for age and sex.
02The association between pain sites and dizziness severity was significantly stronger in patients with psychological distress (HADS score ≥19).
03Patients with 4 or more pain sites or pain intensity of 4 or higher still reported severe dizziness and moderate disability 12 months later.
STILL TO COME
How it was doneWhat they foundWhat it means for PTsWhat it means for OTsWhat it means for SLPs
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What it does not show
This is an observational study, so it shows an association but cannot prove that pain causes worse dizziness outcomes. The study did not track what treatments patients received during the 12-month follow-up, so improvements or lack thereof might be due to other interventions. The study only assessed anxiety and depression symptoms, not other psychological factors like fear-avoidance or catastrophizing, which are known to influence pain and dizziness. The sample was recruited from a tertiary clinic, which may overrepresent complex cases compared to primary care settings. The cause of the pain was not investigated, so it is unclear if specific types of pain (e.g., neuropathic vs. nociceptive) have different impacts on dizziness.
Declared interests
The authors declare no conflicts of interest. The funder, Western Norway University of Applied Sciences, played no role in the study design, conduct, or reporting.
The easy way to misread this
Do not assume that treating the pain will automatically resolve the dizziness. This study identifies pain as a risk factor for poor outcomes, but it does not test whether pain management interventions improve dizziness. The association is correlational, and other unmeasured factors could influence both pain and dizziness recovery.