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All Outputs (73)

Central aspects of pain associated with physical activity: results from the Investigating Musculoskeletal Health and Wellbeing cohort (2025)
Journal Article
Smith, S., Habib, M., Chaplin, W., Millar, B., McWilliams, D., & Walsh, D. (2025). Central aspects of pain associated with physical activity: results from the Investigating Musculoskeletal Health and Wellbeing cohort. PAIN Reports, 10(3), Article e1268. https://doi.org/10.1097/PR9.0000000000001268

Background:
Knee pain reduces activity, while inactivity can increase pain. The central nervous system modulates both pain and activity. The 8-item Central Aspects of Pain (CAP) questionnaire measures self-reported symptoms associated with current a... Read More about Central aspects of pain associated with physical activity: results from the Investigating Musculoskeletal Health and Wellbeing cohort.

Validity and contributions to pain severity from the Central Aspects of Pain (CAP) questionnaire in rheumatoid arthritis (2025)
Journal Article
Smith, S., Georgopoulos, V., Ifesemen, O., James, R., Ferguson, E., Wakefield, R., Wilson, D., Buckley, P., Platts, D., Ledbury, S., Choy, E., Pickles, T., Rutter-Locher, Z., Kirkham, B., Walsh, D., & McWilliams, D. (in press). Validity and contributions to pain severity from the Central Aspects of Pain (CAP) questionnaire in rheumatoid arthritis. PAIN Reports,

Background: The central nervous system (CNS) contributes to pain perception across musculoskeletal conditions. The Central Aspects of Pain (CAP) questionnaire captures a single score associated with quantitative sensory testing (QST) evidence of CNS... Read More about Validity and contributions to pain severity from the Central Aspects of Pain (CAP) questionnaire in rheumatoid arthritis.

The importance of central sensitization for clinical trials of Disease Modifying Osteoarthritis drugs (DMOADs) (2025)
Journal Article
Walsh, D. A., & McWilliams, D. F. (2025). The importance of central sensitization for clinical trials of Disease Modifying Osteoarthritis drugs (DMOADs). Osteoarthritis Imaging, 5(1), Article 100261. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ostima.2025.100261

Osteoarthritis (OA) pain is associated with structural changes in the joint, which are usually quantified by imaging techniques. It is anticipated that structural disease modifying OA drugs (DMOADs) would reduce the burden of OA pain. However, nocice... Read More about The importance of central sensitization for clinical trials of Disease Modifying Osteoarthritis drugs (DMOADs).

Comparative effectiveness of various exercise interventions on central sensitisation indices: A systematic review and network meta-analysis (2025)
Journal Article
Ibrahim, A. A. E., McWilliams, D. F., Smith, S. L., Chaplin, W. J., Salimian, M., Georgopoulos, V., Kouraki, A., & Walsh, D. A. (2025). Comparative effectiveness of various exercise interventions on central sensitisation indices: A systematic review and network meta-analysis. Annals of Physical and Rehabilitation Medicine, 68(4), Article 101894. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.rehab.2024.101894

Background: Central sensitisation (CS) increases musculoskeletal pain. Quantitative sensory testing (QST) or self-report questionnaires might indicate CS. Indices of CS might be suppressed by exercise, although the optimal exercise regimen remains un... Read More about Comparative effectiveness of various exercise interventions on central sensitisation indices: A systematic review and network meta-analysis.

The rat osteoarthritis bone score for histological pathology relevant to human bone marrow lesions and pain (2024)
Journal Article
McWilliams, D. F., Shahtaheri, M., Koushesh, S., Joseph, C., Gowler, P. R., Xu, L., Chapman, V., Sofat, N., & Walsh, D. A. (2025). The rat osteoarthritis bone score for histological pathology relevant to human bone marrow lesions and pain. Osteoarthritis and Cartilage Open, 7(1), Article 100544. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ocarto.2024.100544

Objectives
Histological osteochondral characteristics of inflammation, fibrosis, vascularity, cartilage islands, vessels entering cartilage, thickened trabeculae and cysts are associated with bone marrow lesions (BMLs) in human knee osteoarthritis (... Read More about The rat osteoarthritis bone score for histological pathology relevant to human bone marrow lesions and pain.

Contribution of inflammation markers and quantitative sensory testing (QST) indices of central sensitisation to rheumatoid arthritis pain (2024)
Journal Article
Georgopoulos, V., Smith, S., McWilliams, D. F., Ferguson, E., Wakefield, R., Platts, D., Ledbury, S., Wilson, D., & Walsh, D. A. (2024). Contribution of inflammation markers and quantitative sensory testing (QST) indices of central sensitisation to rheumatoid arthritis pain. Arthritis Research and Therapy, 26(1), Article 175. https://doi.org/10.1186/s13075-024-03407-5

Background: Pain, the primary complaint in rheumatoid arthritis (RA), is multifaceted, and may be driven by inflammatory disease activity and central sensitisation. We aimed to ascertain what proportion of RA pain severity is explained by markers of... Read More about Contribution of inflammation markers and quantitative sensory testing (QST) indices of central sensitisation to rheumatoid arthritis pain.

Validation of a questionnaire for central nervous system aspects of joint pain: the CAP questionnaire (2024)
Journal Article
McWilliams, D., Georgopoulos, V., Patel, J., Millar, B., Smith, S., & Walsh, D. (2024). Validation of a questionnaire for central nervous system aspects of joint pain: the CAP questionnaire. Rheumatology, 63(12), 3306-3314. https://doi.org/10.1093/rheumatology/keae342

Background

Neuropathic-like pain, fatigue, cognitive difficulty, catastrophizing, anxiety, sleep disturbance, depression and widespread pain associate with a single factor in people with knee pain. We report the Central Aspects of Pain questionnai... Read More about Validation of a questionnaire for central nervous system aspects of joint pain: the CAP questionnaire.

The rat Osteoarthritis Bone Score: a new histological system for scoring subchondral pathology in rat knees analogous to histological correlates of human OA bone marrow lesions (2024)
Presentation / Conference Contribution
McWilliams, D. F., Shahtaheri, M., Koushesh, S., Joseph, C., Gowler, P., Chapman, V., Sofat, N., & Walsh, D. A. The rat Osteoarthritis Bone Score: a new histological system for scoring subchondral pathology in rat knees analogous to histological correlates of human OA bone marrow lesions. Presented at 2024 OARSI World Congress on Osteoarthritis, Vienna, Austria

Purpose (the aim of the study): Bone marrow lesions (BMLs) are detected by MRI in the in human osteoarthritis (OA) subchondral bone and associated with pain. We previously described 7 histological features associated with BMLs from which we developed... Read More about The rat Osteoarthritis Bone Score: a new histological system for scoring subchondral pathology in rat knees analogous to histological correlates of human OA bone marrow lesions.

The association of painful and non-painful morbidities with frailty: a cross sectional analysis of a cohort of community dwelling older people in England (2024)
Journal Article
Chaplin, W. J., Lewis, H. R., Shahtaheri, S. M., Millar, B. S., McWilliams, D. F., Gladman, J. R. F., & Walsh, D. A. (2024). The association of painful and non-painful morbidities with frailty: a cross sectional analysis of a cohort of community dwelling older people in England. BMC Geriatrics, 24, Article 158. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12877-023-04602-w

Introduction
The association between chronic pain and frailty might indicate that pain is an independent driver of frailty but might alternatively be explained by inclusion within frailty identification tools of morbidities that commonly lead to chr... Read More about The association of painful and non-painful morbidities with frailty: a cross sectional analysis of a cohort of community dwelling older people in England.

The interrater and test–retest reliability of 3 modalities of quantitative sensory testing in healthy adults and people with chronic low back pain or rheumatoid arthritis (2023)
Journal Article
Brady, S. M., Georgopoulos, V., Veldhuijzen van Zanten, J. J., Duda, J. L., Metsios, G. S., Kitas, G. D., Fenton, S. A., Walsh, D. A., & McWilliams, D. F. (2023). The interrater and test–retest reliability of 3 modalities of quantitative sensory testing in healthy adults and people with chronic low back pain or rheumatoid arthritis. PAIN Reports, 8(6), Article e1102. https://doi.org/10.1097/pr9.0000000000001102

Introduction:
Quantitative Sensory Testing (QST) modalities used to assess central pain mechanisms require different protocols in people with different musculoskeletal conditions.

Objectives:
We aimed to explore the possible effects of musculo... Read More about The interrater and test–retest reliability of 3 modalities of quantitative sensory testing in healthy adults and people with chronic low back pain or rheumatoid arthritis.

Influence of central aspects of pain on self-management in people with chronic low back pain (2023)
Journal Article
Georgopoulos, V., McWilliams, D. F., Hendrick, P., & Walsh, D. A. (2024). Influence of central aspects of pain on self-management in people with chronic low back pain. Patient Education and Counseling, 121, Article 108109. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.pec.2023.108109

Objective: This observational study investigated whether central aspects of pain are associated with self-management domains in individuals with chronic low back pain (CLBP) undertaking a pain management program. Methods: Individuals with CLBP provid... Read More about Influence of central aspects of pain on self-management in people with chronic low back pain.

The Web-Based Pain-at-Work Toolkit With Telephone Support for Employees With Chronic or Persistent Pain: Protocol for a Cluster Randomized Feasibility Trial (2023)
Journal Article
Blake, H., Chaplin, W., Wainwright, E., Taylor, G., McNamee, P., McWilliams, D., Abbott-Fleming, V., Holmes, J., Fecowycz, A., Walsh, D. A., & Walker-Bone, K. (2023). The Web-Based Pain-at-Work Toolkit With Telephone Support for Employees With Chronic or Persistent Pain: Protocol for a Cluster Randomized Feasibility Trial. JMIR Research Protocols, 12, Article e51474. https://doi.org/10.2196/51474

Background: Chronic or persistent pain affects people’s ability to work or be productive at work, generating high societal and economic burden. However, the provision of work-related advice and support for people with chronic pain is variable or lack... Read More about The Web-Based Pain-at-Work Toolkit With Telephone Support for Employees With Chronic or Persistent Pain: Protocol for a Cluster Randomized Feasibility Trial.

Associations of Muscle Strength with Central Aspects of Pain: Data from the Knee Pain and Related Health in the Community (KPIC) Cohort (2023)
Journal Article
McWilliams, D. F., Yue, B., Smith, S. L., Stocks, J., Doherty, M., Valdes, A. M., Zhang, W., Sarmanova, A., Fernandes, G. S., Akin-Akinyosoye, K., Hall, M., & Walsh, D. A. (2023). Associations of Muscle Strength with Central Aspects of Pain: Data from the Knee Pain and Related Health in the Community (KPIC) Cohort. Journal of Personalized Medicine, 13(10), Article 1450. https://doi.org/10.3390/jpm13101450

Knee pain is associated with lower muscle strength, and both contribute to disability. Peripheral and central neurological mechanisms contribute to OA pain. Understanding the relative contributions of pain mechanisms to muscle strength might help fut... Read More about Associations of Muscle Strength with Central Aspects of Pain: Data from the Knee Pain and Related Health in the Community (KPIC) Cohort.

The bidirectional relationship between chronic joint pain and frailty: data from the Investigating Musculoskeletal Health and Wellbeing cohort (2023)
Journal Article
Chaplin, W. J., McWilliams, D. F., Millar, B. S., Gladman, J. R. F., & Walsh, D. A. (2023). The bidirectional relationship between chronic joint pain and frailty: data from the Investigating Musculoskeletal Health and Wellbeing cohort. BMC Geriatrics, 23(1), Article 273. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12877-023-03949-4

Background: Pain and frailty are associated, but this relationship is insufficiently understood. We aimed to test whether there is a unidirectional or bidirectional relationship between joint pain and frailty. Methods: Data were from Investigating Mu... Read More about The bidirectional relationship between chronic joint pain and frailty: data from the Investigating Musculoskeletal Health and Wellbeing cohort.

P073 Comparative effectiveness of different exercise interventions on central sensitisation indices in humans: A systematic review and network meta-analysis (2023)
Presentation / Conference Contribution
Abd Elkhabir, A. A., McWilliams, D. F., Smith, S., Chaplin, W., Salimian, M., Georgopoulos, V., Kouraki, A., & Walsh, D. A. (2023, April). P073 Comparative effectiveness of different exercise interventions on central sensitisation indices in humans: A systematic review and network meta-analysis. Presented at British Society for Rheumatology Annual Conference 2023, Manchester

Background/Aims

Exercise has shown a promising effect in reducing central sensitisation (CS), but it is unknown which exercise type is the most effective. This review aimed to rank and compare the effectiveness of different exercise interventions... Read More about P073 Comparative effectiveness of different exercise interventions on central sensitisation indices in humans: A systematic review and network meta-analysis.

Inflammatory and Noninflammatory Disease Activity in Rheumatoid Arthritis: The Effect of Pain on Personalized Medicine (2023)
Journal Article
McWilliams, D. F., & Walsh, D. A. (2023). Inflammatory and Noninflammatory Disease Activity in Rheumatoid Arthritis: The Effect of Pain on Personalized Medicine. Journal of Rheumatology, 50(6), 721-723. https://doi.org/10.3899/jrheum.230158

Disease activity in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is often described in terms of inflammation, although noninflammatory mechanisms are also integral to the disease. Pain is the most important symptom for many people with RA, and is therefore a key compo... Read More about Inflammatory and Noninflammatory Disease Activity in Rheumatoid Arthritis: The Effect of Pain on Personalized Medicine.

How people with knee pain understand why their pain changes or remains the same over time: A qualitative study (2023)
Journal Article
Walsh, D. A., Rathbone, J., Akin-Akinyosoye, K., Fernandes, G. S., Valdes, A. M., McWilliams, D. F., Zhang, W., Doherty, M., Hancox, J. E., Vedhara, K., das Nair, R., & Ferguson, E. (2023). How people with knee pain understand why their pain changes or remains the same over time: A qualitative study. Osteoarthritis and Cartilage Open, 5(2), Article 100345. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ocarto.2023.100345

Objectives
Guidelines recommend knee osteoarthritis pain management based on biopsychosocial mechanisms. Treatment adherence and effectiveness may be affected if there is a mismatch between patient perspectives and treatment focus. We therefore exam... Read More about How people with knee pain understand why their pain changes or remains the same over time: A qualitative study.

Influence of Social Support, Financial Status, and Lifestyle on the Disparity Between Inflammation and Disability in Rheumatoid Arthritis (2022)
Journal Article
Gwinnutt, J. M., Norton, S., Hyrich, K. L., Lunt, M., Combe, B., Rincheval, N., Ruyssen‐Witrand, A., Fautrel, B., McWilliams, D. F., Walsh, D. A., Nikiphorou, E., Kiely, P. D., Young, A., Chipping, J. R., MacGregor, A., & Verstappen, S. M. (2023). Influence of Social Support, Financial Status, and Lifestyle on the Disparity Between Inflammation and Disability in Rheumatoid Arthritis. Arthritis Care and Research, 75(5), 1026-1035. https://doi.org/10.1002/acr.24996

Objective: To investigate how social support, financial status, and lifestyle influence the development of excess disability in rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Methods: Data were obtained from the Étude et Suivi des Polyarthrites Indifférenciées Récentes... Read More about Influence of Social Support, Financial Status, and Lifestyle on the Disparity Between Inflammation and Disability in Rheumatoid Arthritis.

Harmonising knee pain patient-reported outcomes: a systematic literature review and meta-analysis of Patient Acceptable Symptom State (PASS) and individual participant data (IPD) (2022)
Journal Article
Georgopoulos, V., Smith, S., McWilliams, D. F., Steultjens, M. P. M., Williams, A., Price, A., Valdes, A. M., Vincent, T. L., Watt, F. E., & Walsh, D. A. (2023). Harmonising knee pain patient-reported outcomes: a systematic literature review and meta-analysis of Patient Acceptable Symptom State (PASS) and individual participant data (IPD). Osteoarthritis and Cartilage, 31(1), 83-95. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.joca.2022.08.011

Objective: In order to facilitate data pooling between studies, we explored harmonisation of patient-reported outcome measures (PROMs) in people with knee pain due to osteoarthritis or knee trauma, using the Patient Acceptable Symptom State scores (P... Read More about Harmonising knee pain patient-reported outcomes: a systematic literature review and meta-analysis of Patient Acceptable Symptom State (PASS) and individual participant data (IPD).