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Insights into the Assessment Strategies and Non-Pharmacological Management of Musculoskeletal...
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Insights into the Assessment Strategies and Non-Pharmacological Management of Musculoskeletal Dysfunctions Linked to Chronic Pain Condition

A special issue of Journal of Functional Morphology and Kinesiology (ISSN 2411-5142). This special issue belongs to the section "Functional Anatomy and Musculoskeletal System".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (31 December 2025) | Viewed by 1628

Special Issue Editors

Dr. Manuela Deodato

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Medical, Surgical and Health Sciences, University of Trieste, 34100 Trieste, Italy
Interests: headache; migraine; tension type headache; chronic pain; pain modulation; cognitive impairment; dual task protocol; cognitive training; active exercise; transcranial magnetic stimulation; algometer assessments
Dr. Giovanni Galeoto

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Human Neurosciences, Sapienza University of Rome, 00185 Rome, Italy
Interests: epidemiology; rehabilitation in orthopedics and neurology; validation of measuring tools; rehabilitation; psychometric and outcome measures validity
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

We are organizing a Special Issue on the assessment and treatments of musculoskeletal dysfunctions associ-ated with chronic pain. Chronic pain is a multifactorial condition that affects physical, cognitive, and psycho-social functioning. In some patients, peripheral and central sensitization could lead to some musculoskeletal dysfunctions, such as postural alterations throughout the whole spine, a reduction in range of motion, and ac-tive trigger points. This constellation of musculoskeletal dysfunction could complicate clinical management and may act as risk factor for pain chronicity. Non-pharmacological treatments for pain management are com-monly divided into psychological, physiological, complementary, and alternative treatments. This Special Issue aims to explore the recent advancements in assessment and non-pharmacological treatments of the musculo-skeletal dysfunction related to chronic pain in order to better understand the mechanisms that underlie the pathophysiology. We are pleased to invite researchers involved in the study of chronic pain that could contrib-ute with innovative work to submit high-quality articles or reviews related to this issue. 

Dr. Deodato Manuela
Dr. Giovanni Galeoto
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 250 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for assessment.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Journal of Functional Morphology and Kinesiology is an international peer-reviewed open access quarterly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 1800 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • musculoskeletal dysfunctions
  • chronic pain
  • pathophysiology

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Published Papers (2 papers)

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Research

13 pages, 7333 KB  
Article
Cadaveric and Ultrasound-Guided Evaluation of Two Needling Approaches Targeting the Pectoralis Minor Muscle: A Pilot Feasibility Study
by José L. Sánchez-Sánchez, Pedro Belón-Pérez, Xavier Grevol-Coll, Miguel Robles-García, Gustavo Plaza-Manzano, César Fernández-de-las-Peñas and Laura Calderón-Díez
J. Funct. Morphol. Kinesiol. 2026, 11(1), 121; https://doi.org/10.3390/jfmk11010121 - 16 Mar 2026
Viewed by 629
Abstract
Background: The pectoralis minor muscle can be a source of musculoskeletal-related chest pain by contributing to thoracic outlet syndrome. Needling interventions applied to chest wall muscles have an inherent risk of puncturing sensitive structures, e.g., the pleura. Objective: The objective of [...] Read more.
Background: The pectoralis minor muscle can be a source of musculoskeletal-related chest pain by contributing to thoracic outlet syndrome. Needling interventions applied to chest wall muscles have an inherent risk of puncturing sensitive structures, e.g., the pleura. Objective: The objective of this study was to preliminarily investigate the safety and accuracy of two needling approaches targeting the pectoralis minor muscle. Methods: A pincer- and flat-needle approach targeting the pectoralis minor muscle was conducted in five Thiel-embalmed cadavers and 10 healthy volunteers by an experienced and a novice clinician. The needle was inserted until the clinician considered that the pectoralis minor muscle was reached. Each clinician conducted 10 needle insertions with each approach. In cadavers, the accuracy of needle placement was identified with both ultrasound imaging and anatomical dissection. In healthy volunteers, needle placement accuracy was evaluated with ultrasound imaging. Results: Accurate needle penetration of the pectoralis minor muscle was 80–90% and 40–70% for experienced and novice clinicians, respectively, with the pincer approach. One pleural puncture was observed in one cadaver specimen with this approach by the novice clinician. Accurate needle penetration of the pectoralis minor muscle was 100% and 90% for experienced and novice clinicians, respectively, with the flat approach. The novice clinician required 3.5 times longer to perform the flat approach than the experienced clinician. Conclusions: The results of this pilot feasibility study suggest that a pincer-needle approach seems to be less accurate than the flat-needle approach and substantially more error-prone for a novice clinician, which, in a clinical context, could pose a potential risk of pneumothorax based on the pleural puncture observed in one cadaver specimen. In contrast, our preliminary results revealed that the flat-needle approach could have better accuracy and safety, particularly when performed under real ultrasound guidance. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Insights into the Assessment Strategies and Non-Pharmacological Management of Musculoskeletal Dysfunctions Linked to Chronic Pain Condition)
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16 pages, 1150 KB  
Article
Does Stimulation of Plantar Mechanoreceptors Alter Visual Spatial Localization?
by Philippe Villeneuve, Frédéric Viseux, Rodolfo Parreira and Maria Pia Bucci
J. Funct. Morphol. Kinesiol. 2026, 11(1), 74; https://doi.org/10.3390/jfmk11010074 - 12 Feb 2026
Viewed by 638
Abstract
Objectives: Few studies have previously shown an interaction between feet and gaze in postural control. The aim of the current study is to more specifically examine how vertical heterophoria (VH) varies with stimulation of the mechanoreceptors in the foot sole. A new method [...] Read more.
Objectives: Few studies have previously shown an interaction between feet and gaze in postural control. The aim of the current study is to more specifically examine how vertical heterophoria (VH) varies with stimulation of the mechanoreceptors in the foot sole. A new method is proposed for fast assessment of minimum VH, especially when values are less than 1/2 diopter (pD). Methods: The Maddox rod test was used to assess VH with a new device made of a small point source of light located in the center of a circular box that enables the measurement of minimum VH. The VH assessment was based on a group of 95 adults in upright posture on different subtle plantar stimulations (with and without pins and on foam). Results: Almost half of the subjects exhibited minimum heterophoria with vertical deviations less than 1 pD, most of them (96%) with a VH ≤ 1/2 pD (small heterophoria). For the latter, a subtle plantar foot change induced by pins (1 mm high) or foam (4 mm high) can have different effects on ortho- and heterophoria. Orthophoric subjects became heterophoric with foam and pins, while heterophoric subjects became orthophoric with foam and pins, which can increase or decrease their phorias depending on the foam or pins and the type of HV. Using the new circular box makes it fast and easy to highlight even the smallest of heterophorias. We suggest that clinicians use this device to assess the effects of postural interventions, even though it has not yet proven its validity. The findings of the current study highlight the interrelation between gaze and foot systems, while the importance of the plantar mechanoreceptors is demonstrated. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Insights into the Assessment Strategies and Non-Pharmacological Management of Musculoskeletal Dysfunctions Linked to Chronic Pain Condition)
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