There may be a connection between tactile acuity and back pain.
In a new study, researchers administered a saline solution to subjects in order to induce pain. While some subjects received the real injection, some subjects actually received a “sham injection” in order to control for a possible nocebo effect. Additionally, a third group of subjects did not receive any treatment.
Afterwards, subjects measured tactile acuity. The researchers found that inducing pain by administering the saline injection led to reduced tactile acuity.
Conclusions
There are many observational studies linking back pain, central sensitization, and changes in tactile acuity. This controlled trial is useful, as it provides direct evidence that there is a cause-and-effect relationship between the back pain and tactile acuity.
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