Chronic pain can develop without tissue damage, injury, or underlying illness. There are several intervening biological, psychological, and social factors involved in its appearance that significantly affect the activities of daily life. It is also associated with significant emotional anxiety and/or functional disability. This review systematically analyses works published in the last five years that evaluate the psychopathological symptomatology and neuropsychological disorders of chronic primary musculoskeletal pain (CPMP). A bibliographic search was carried out to identify articles published in English between January 2018 and March 2023 using the Medline, Scopus, PsycInfo, and Pubmed databases. Twenty articles were obtained using the PRISMA selection method. The main results of this study provided evidence of the presence of moderate and severe chronic pain in patients suffering from musculoskeletal pain. This increase in the intensity of pain correlates with greater psychopathological symptomatology, such as depression, anxiety, insomnia, lack of attention, and hyperactivity/impulsiveness, as well as the use of maladaptive coping strategies. Furthermore, there exists dysfunction in the cerebral structures related to attention and the processing of pain in patients with CPMP. This review may help to develop and optimise the multidisciplinary treatments adapted to the deficits caused by this illness.

Diabetes mellitus (DM) is one of the most common chronic endocrine diseases, characterized by hyperglycemia, due to abnormal nitric oxide synthesis. The trend of an increase in the number of patients with DM continues. The medical and economic burden of DM is not only associated with hyperglycemia management but also with the management of DM‐related complications. Most chronic DM–associated complications are vascular in nature. Thus, hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT) can be used for primary and/or secondary prevention of vascular complications. This systematic review is aimed at providing an up‐to‐date analysis of the effects of HBOT in patients with diabetic foot ulcers (DFUs) on the prevention of amputation, fitting, and rehabilitation of amputees. The Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta‐Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines were followed to conduct this systematic review. PubMed and Web of Science (WOS) database were employed in the search, which ended in November 2023. A risk of bias analysis was performed using the Evidence Project tool. After analyzing the records obtained, 10 studies were identified. However, seven fulfilled the inclusion criteria and were included in this systematic review. All included patients were over 18 years of age and had DM. The degree of DFU was assessed with the Wagner scale, being between 2 and 4, and the age of previous treatment of these DFU was taken into account. The results of the current systematic review showed that significant improvements can be achieved with HBOT when comparing its effects to those of the control group that followed usual care. Most studies included in the review showed positive results for DFU, amputation prevention, fitting, and rehabilitation of amputees. Therefore, the use of a hyperbaric chamber and standard care, as opposed to standard care alone, is favorable in patients with chronic DFUs. Promising and positive results were achieved for wound healing in DFU and the prevention of amputations.

Chronic pain and prolonged grief disorder (PGD) share emotional, cognitive, and motivational components related to significant loss. This cross-sectional study examines whether individuals with chronic pain present symptoms of PGD and whether time since diagnosis plays a role in psychological deterioration. Thirty patients with chronic primary low back pain (CPLBP) and thirty healthy controls were recruited. The Inventory of Complicated Grief-Revised, the Numeric Pain Rating Scale, the Beck Depression Inventory-II, the Beck Anxiety Inventory, and the 5-level EQ-5D version were used. The results indicate clinically significant psychological distress and reduced quality of life in CPLBP patients. Furthermore, their psychological profile showed similarities with symptoms of prolonged grief. While time since diagnosis appeared to be linked to greater psychological distress, its effect diminished when considering pain intensity. These findings suggest that grief-related responses may contribute to chronic pain and highlight the need for interventions that address both emotional and physical impact.

Background/Objectives: Chronic musculoskeletal pain without a clearly identifiable medical cause is characterised by significant emotional distress and/or functional disability. Given the relatively limited research specifically addressing chronic primary musculoskeletal pain (CPMP), as defined in the latest revision of the International Classification of Diseases (ICD-11), the present study aimed to examine its psychopathological and sleep-related implications, and to explore whether pain intensity is associated with psychological distress and poor sleep quality. Methods: This observational study included 60 adult participants, comprising 30 patients diagnosed with CPMP and 30 healthy controls without any diagnosis. Participants completed the Numeric Pain Rating Scale (NPRS), the Symptom Checklist-90-R (SCL-90-R), and the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI). Results: Patients with CPMP exhibited significantly higher levels of psychopathological symptomatology on the SCL-90-R and poorer sleep quality on the PSQI compared to controls (p < 0.05 for most dimensions). Greater pain intensity on the NPRS was strongly associated with psychological distress (e.g., GSI: r = 0.838, p < 0.01) and poor sleep quality (r = 0.785, p < 0.01). Hierarchical regression analyses revealed that pain intensity may play a meaningful role in both psychological distress and sleep quality (p < 0.05 across all models), even after statistically controlling for sex, age, and pain duration. Conclusions: These findings suggest that pain intensity is not only a key physical symptom, but also a relevant factor in understanding the broader psychological vulnerability in patients with CPMP. The present study contributes to a deeper understanding of the psychopathological and functional impact of CPMP and underscores the need for tailored psychological interventions to address the comorbid symptoms associated with this condition.

Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is a progressive systemic condition frequently associated with sarcopenia, leading to reduced muscle mass, strength, and functional capacity. Reliable and objective assessment tools are needed to monitor neuromuscular status and support rehabilitation strategies. This study aimed to evaluate the test–retest reliability of a portable surface electromyography (sEMG) device (mDurance) during the 30-Second Sit-to-Stand (30-STS) test in patients with CKD. An observational cross-sectional study was conducted in 26 participants (80.8% male; mean age 50.35 ± 12.40 years). Muscle activation was quantified using the Root Mean Square (RMS) amplitude of the rectus femoris during a single-session test–retest protocol with a 20-minute recovery interval. Reliability was assessed using the Intraclass Correlation Coefficient (ICC), Standard Error of Measurement (SEM), Minimal Detectable Change (MDC95), and Bland–Altman agreement analysis. The ICC was 0.828 (95% CI: 0.592–0.926) for single measures and 0.906 (95% CI: 0.744–0.961) for average measures, indicating good-to-excellent reliability. The SEM was 48.40 µV and the MDC95 was 134.17 µV. Bland-Altman analysis showed a mean bias of −24.73 µV, suggesting a small learning effect between assessments. Internal consistency was high (Cronbach’s alpha = 0.924). Portable sEMG demonstrated good-to-excellent reliability for assessing quadriceps activation during the 30-STS test in CKD patients and may serve as a complementary tool for within-session neuromuscular assessment in renal rehabilitation settings.