Pain Catastrophizing Beliefs and Neuropathic Symptoms Are Associated With a Poorer Long-Term Recovery in Chronic Plantar Heel Pain: A Cohort Study.
Jason Rogers, Graeme Jones, Karen Wills and 1 others
PMID 41206644WHAT IT FOUND
In chronic plantar heel pain, increasing pain catastrophizing and neuropathic symptoms over 12 months predicted poorer pain recovery.
These factors were not associated with improved function or quality of life. Other clinical measures like BMI and strength showed no longitudinal association with outcomes.
Key findings
01Higher scores for pain catastrophizing and neuropathic symptoms were associated with less improvement in pain over 12 months.
02Participants classified as 'catastrophizing' or 'probably neuropathic' showed significantly less pain improvement than those who were not.
03Primary exposures including BMI, waist girth, ankle plantarflexor strength, and multisite pain were not significantly associated with changes in foot function or quality of life over time.
STILL TO COME
How it was doneWhat they foundWhat it means for PTs
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What it does not show
The study design is observational, so it identifies associations but cannot prove that changing these factors improves outcomes. Key exposures relied on self-reported surveys, which may be subject to reporting bias. Data was collected only at baseline and one-year follow-up, potentially missing variability in recovery trajectories during the interim. Treatment data was collected by self-report only, making it difficult to separate the effects of natural history from those of specific interventions. Sample size calculations did not fully account for the complexity of the statistical models used, which may have reduced power and precision.
Declared interests
The funders (Physiotherapy Research Foundation, Royal Hobart Hospital Research Foundation, Rebecca L Cooper Medical Research Foundation, and AllCare Physiotherapy Tasmania) played no role in the design, conduct, or reporting of this study.
The easy way to misread this
Do not assume that treating pain catastrophizing or neuropathic symptoms will improve function or quality of life. The study found these factors were associated with poorer pain recovery but showed no significant association with changes in function or quality of life outcomes.
Summarised by AI from the full paper, without a clinician reviewing it. Check it against the source before it changes what you do. Read it on PubMed →