Akademik Veri Yönetim Sistemi
11. ULUSLARARASI İZMİR TIP, HEMŞİRELİK, EBELİK VE SAĞLIK BİLİMLERİ KONGRESİ, İzmir, Türkiye, 14 - 16 Mart 2026, ss.357-359, (Tam Metin Bildiri)
Background: Chronic low back pain (CLBP) is one of the most prevalent musculoskeletal disorders worldwide and remains one of the leading causes of disability. It is defined as pain lasting longer than
three months and is often not fully explained by a clearly identifiable structural pathology. This condition suggests that pain may be associated not only with peripheral nociceptive mechanisms but
also with processes originating from the central nervous system.In recent years, the concept of central sensitization has gained prominence in the pathophysiology of chronic pain. In patients with chronic
low back pain, central sensitization may represent one of the underlying mechanisms contributing to the pain experience. Central sensitization is defined as an increased nociceptive response resulting from the
sensitization of neurons within the central nervous system, typically due to prolonged nociceptive input or pathological conditions associated with harmful stimuli.It has been reported that, in individuals with
chronic low back pain, not only local tissue damage but also alterations in central pain modulation mechanisms may influence the clinical presentation. Therefore, investigating the relationship between
central sensitization and pain intensity is important for the assessment and treatment planning of chronic low back pain. Particularly, studies with an interim analysis design provide valuable data for evaluating
sample characteristics and preliminary findings in ongoing research. In this context, examining the association between central sensitization and pain intensity is important for both clinical evaluation and
the prediction of treatment outcomes.
Objective: The aim of this study was to examine the relationship between central sensitization and pain intensity in individuals with chronic low back pain and to report the findings of an interim analysis. It
is anticipated that the results will contribute to a better understanding of the multidimensional nature of chronic low back pain and support the consideration of central mechanisms in clinical practice.
Methodology: This study is an interim analysis of a cross-sectional and analytical research designed to examine the relationship between central sensitization and pain intensity in individuals with chronic low
back pain. The study sample consisted of literate individuals aged between 18 and 65 years who had been experiencing low back pain for at least three months and reported a pain intensity of ≥4 on a 0–10
scale. Participation was voluntary. To ensure suitability for online data collection, participants were required to correctly answer simple attention-check mathematical questions included in the Google
Forms survey. Individuals were excluded if they had a history of pregnancy, cerebrovascular disease, serious spinal pathology (malignancy, vertebral fracture, cauda equina syndrome, inflammatory
rheumatic diseases), or previous spinal surgery. Data were collected through an online questionnaire administered via the Google Forms platform. Participants were allowed to submit responses only once.
Demographic and clinical data, including age, gender, educational level, pain duration, and pain course, were recorded. Pain intensity was assessed using the Numeric Rating Scale (NRS), while central
sensitization was evaluated using Part A of the Central Sensitization Inventory (CSI). Higher scores indicate greater pain severity and more pronounced central sensitization-related symptoms. A total of 90
individuals participated in the study, and 46 participants met the inclusion criteria and were included in the final analysis. Statistical analyses were performed using IBM SPSS Statistics (Version XX).
Continuous variables were presented as mean ± standard deviation, and categorical variables as frequency (n) and percentage (%). Normality of distribution was assessed using the Shapiro–Wilk test.
Since pain intensity did not demonstrate normal distribution (p < 0.001), the relationship between central sensitization and pain intensity was analyzed using Spearman correlation analysis. Simple linear
regression analysis was conducted to evaluate the predictive effect of central sensitization on pain intensity. Statistical significance was set at p < 0.05. Ethical approval was obtained from the Non-
Interventional Research Ethics Committee of Dokuz Eylül University, and informed consent was obtained from all participants.
Results: Of the participants, 65.2% were female (n = 30) and 34.8% were male (n = 16), with a mean age of 40.76 ± 11.88 years. Regarding educational level, 56.5% of the participants were university
graduates, 26.1% were high school graduates, 13.0% held postgraduate degrees, and 4.3% had completed primary education. In terms of pain duration, 43.5% of the participants had experienced low
back pain for more than five years, 30.4% for 1–5 years, 13.0% for 6–12 months, and 13.0% for 3–6 months. The mean pain intensity score was 5.46 ± 1.45, while the mean central sensitization score was
36.59 ± 17.39. A moderate, positive, and statistically significant correlation was found between central sensitization and pain intensity (ρ = 0.542, p < 0.001). Simple linear regression analysis demonstrated
that the model was statistically significant (F(1,44) = 32.03, p < 0.001). Central sensitization explained 42% of the variance in pain intensity (R2 = 0.421). Each one-point increase in the CSI score was
associated with a 0.054-point increase in pain intensity (β = 0.054, p < 0.001).
Methodology: This study is an interim analysis of a cross-sectional and analytical research designed to examine the relationship between central sensitization and pain intensity in individuals with chronic low
back pain. The study sample consisted of literate individuals aged between 18 and 65 years who had been experiencing low back pain for at least three months and reported a pain intensity of ≥4 on a 0–10
scale. Participation was voluntary. To ensure suitability for online data collection, participants were required to correctly answer simple attention-check mathematical questions included in the Google
Forms survey. Individuals were excluded if they had a history of pregnancy, cerebrovascular disease, serious spinal pathology (malignancy, vertebral fracture, cauda equina syndrome, inflammatory
rheumatic diseases), or previous spinal surgery. Data were collected through an online questionnaire administered via the Google Forms platform. Participants were allowed to submit responses only once.
Demographic and clinical data, including age, gender, educational level, pain duration, and pain course, were recorded. Pain intensity was assessed using the Numeric Rating Scale (NRS), while central
sensitization was evaluated using Part A of the Central Sensitization Inventory (CSI). Higher scores indicate greater pain severity and more pronounced central sensitization-related symptoms. A total of 90
individuals participated in the study, and 46 participants met the inclusion criteria and were included in the final analysis. Statistical analyses were performed using IBM SPSS Statistics (Version XX).
Continuous variables were presented as mean ± standard deviation, and categorical variables as frequency (n) and percentage (%). Normality of distribution was assessed using the Shapiro–Wilk test.
Since pain intensity did not demonstrate normal distribution (p < 0.001), the relationship between central sensitization and pain intensity was analyzed using Spearman correlation analysis. Simple linear
regression analysis was conducted to evaluate the predictive effect of central sensitization on pain intensity. Statistical significance was set at p < 0.05. Ethical approval was obtained from the Non-Interventional Research Ethics Committee of Dokuz Eylül University, and informed consent was obtained from all participants.
Results: Of the participants, 65.2% were female (n = 30) and 34.8% were male (n = 16), with a mean age of 40.76 ± 11.88 years. Regarding educational level, 56.5% of the participants were university
graduates, 26.1% were high school graduates, 13.0% held postgraduate degrees, and 4.3% had completed primary education. In terms of pain duration, 43.5% of the participants had experienced low
back pain for more than five years, 30.4% for 1–5 years, 13.0% for 6–12 months, and 13.0% for 3–6 months. The mean pain intensity score was 5.46 ± 1.45, while the mean central sensitization score was
36.59 ± 17.39. A moderate, positive, and statistically significant correlation was found between central sensitization and pain intensity (ρ = 0.542, p < 0.001). Simple linear regression analysis demonstrated
that the model was statistically significant (F(1,44) = 32.03, p < 0.001). Central sensitization explained 42% of the variance in pain intensity (R2 = 0.421). Each one-point increase in the CSI score was associated with a 0.054-point increase in pain intensity (β = 0.054, p < 0.001).
Conclusion: The findings of this study indicate that pain intensity increases as the level of central sensitization rises in individuals with chronic low back pain. Central sensitization appears to be an
important determinant of pain severity and should be taken into consideration during clinical assessment and treatment planning. These results support the importance of addressing central mechanisms in the management of chronic low back pain.
Keywords: Chronic Low Back Pain, Central Sensitization, Pain Intensity, Musculoskeletal Pain,Nociception