Our research project focuses on understanding musculoskeletal pain (MSP), a major cause of disability worldwide. Traditionally, we thought of pain as a linear progression from acute (short-term) pain to chronic (long-term) pain. However, recent data analysis techniques have shown that pain does not always follow this simple path. Instead, people with MSP may have different pain patterns: a quick recovery, persistent pain, or pain that comes and goes.
We are investigating why this happens and how to predict these different pain patterns. We use brain imaging data to see how the brain changes when someone has persistent pain. We also study how psychological factors and physical adaptations can affect intensity of pain and how this determines a person’s disability.
Our project aims to improve our understanding of multiple factors that influence pain and how they interact over time. We are not just looking at snapshots of data at one point in time; we are tracking changes in multiple factors over time to get a better picture of how pain develops and why it varies from person to person.
Ultimately, our research can help healthcare providers make better-informed decisions about the treatment of MSP. By identifying biomarkers that predict different pain trajectories, we can tailor treatments to each person’s unique needs, potentially reducing the burden of MSP on individuals and society as a whole.
