#6-15E. Unraveling Mixed Pain Phenotypes in Musculoskeletal Disorders (Nat Rev Rheumatol, 2026)

Are you struggling to treat persistent musculoskeletal pain that seems entirely disproportionate to underlying tissue pathology? This review highlights that over one-third of musculoskeletal conditions involve overlapping pain phenotypes—combining nociceptive, neuropathic, and nociplastic mechanisms—which severely impair traditional tissue-targeted treatments and surgical outcomes. Although clinical assessment remains challenged by a lack of objective diagnostic biomarkers or standardized sensory tests, recognizing these mechanistic differences is crucial. Identifying mixed pain allows clinicians to avoid low-value invasive procedures and implement personalized, biopsychosocial strategies to optimize patient care and long-term functional recovery.

Citation: Fitzcharles MA, Assis RD, Polly DW, Cohen SP. Mixed pain phenotypes in musculoskeletal disorders: mechanisms and management. Nat Rev Rheumatol. 2026.

DOI: 10.1038/s41584-026-01443-w

Disclaimer: This audio summary is based on personal interpretation and does not guarantee the exact content of the original paper. Please refer to the original article for details.