Resumo
Central sensitisation is a potential mechanism contributing to persistent and widespread pain across multiple clinical conditions. Systemic Manual Therapy Halili (SMT Halili) is a structured manual therapy approach organised into coded local, regional, and proposed systemic protocols. However, its evidence has not previously been synthesised across body regions or critically examined in relation to contemporary central sensitisation research. This narrative evidence synthesis and mapping review aimed to describe the clinical, conceptual, and methodological development of SMT Halili, examine patterns across its published applications, and identify priorities for future research. Twelve publications directly related to SMT Halili were mapped and considered alongside contextual literature on central sensitisation, nociplastic pain, assessment methods, and chronic pain conditions. The SMT literature included retrospective clinical studies, case reports, focused reviews, a theoretical model, and methodological publications concerning the Patient Identified Problem scale and the Halili Physical Therapy Statistical Analysis Tool. Applications were identified across low back, knee, shoulder, hip, pelvic, facial, respiratory, and post-COVID presentations. Most clinical publications reported improvement in regional complaints and broader patient-identified problems following combinations of local, regional, visceral, drainage, autonomic, and proposed desensitisation protocols. However, the predominance of retrospective designs, absence of randomised comparator groups, heterogeneity of interventions, limited long-term follow-up, and indirect assessment of central sensitisation restrict causal interpretation. Current evidence therefore supports SMT Halili as a structured clinical and research framework with preliminary findings across several presentations, but it does not establish SMT as an effective treatment for central sensitisation. Prospective controlled studies, independent replication, predefined protocols, multidimensional sensory assessment, and standardised outcome reporting are required.
Referências
Akeda, K., Takegami, N., Yamada, J., Fujiwara, T., Nishimura, A., & Sudo, A. (2021). Central sensitization in chronic low back pain: A population-based study of a Japanese mountain village. Journal of Pain Research, 14, 1271–1280. https://doi.org/10.2147/JPR.S301924
Aoyagi, K., He, J., Nicol, A. L., Clauw, D. J., Kluding, P. M., Jernigan, S., & Sharma, N. K. (2020). A subgroup of chronic low back pain patients with central sensitization. The Clinical Journal of Pain, 36(11), 869–879. https://doi.org/10.1097/AJP.0000000000000755
Aponte, A., & Halili, A. (2025). Treatment for the central sensitization component of lower back pain using systemic manual therapy. Journal of Bodywork and Movement Therapies, 42, 500–505. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jbmt.2025.01.016
Cao, Y., Fan, D., & Yin, Y. (2020). Pain mechanism in rheumatoid arthritis: From cytokines to central sensitization. Mediators of Inflammation, 2020, Article 2076328. https://doi.org/10.1155/2020/2076328
Colgan, D. D., Eddy, A., Green, K., & Oken, B. S. (2022). Adaptive body awareness predicts fewer central sensitization-related symptoms and explains the relationship between central sensitization-related symptoms and pain intensity: A cross-sectional study among individuals with chronic pain. Pain Practice, 22(2), 222–232. https://doi.org/10.1111/papr.13083
Coronado, R. A., & George, S. Z. (2018). The Central Sensitization Inventory and Pain Sensitivity Questionnaire: An exploration of construct validity and associations with widespread pain sensitivity among individuals with shoulder pain. Musculoskeletal Science and Practice, 36, 61–67. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.msksp.2018.04.009
Curatolo, M. (2024). Central sensitization and pain: Pathophysiologic and clinical insights. Current Neuropharmacology, 22(1), 15–22. https://doi.org/10.2174/1570159X20666221012112725
Dahmani, D., Taik, F. Z., Berrichi, I., Fourtassi, M., & Abourazzak, F. E. (2023). Impact of central sensitization on pain, disability and psychological distress in patients with knee osteoarthritis and chronic low back pain. BMC Musculoskeletal Disorders, 24, Article 974. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12891-023-07019-z
Dai, X., Wang, C., Jiang, P., & Mei, X. (2026). Unraveling chronic pain: From mechanisms and risks to diagnosis and treatment. MedComm, 7(4), Article e70685. https://doi.org/10.1002/mco2.70685
de la Coba, P., Garcia-Hernandez, A., Aranda-Villalobos, P., Andrade-Ortega, J. A., & Reyes del Paso, G. A. (2026). Assessment of central pain sensitization in chronic low back pain and its utility in diagnosis and prediction of clinical severity. Scientific Reports, 16, Article 33514. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-33514-5
De Schoenmacker, I., Goudman, L., Moens, M., Putman, K., Buyl, R., & Nijs, J. (2023). Central sensitization in complex regional pain syndrome patients with widespread pain: A cross-sectional study. Pain Medicine, 24(8), 974–984. https://doi.org/10.1093/pm/pnad040
den Boer, C., Terluin, B., van der Wouden, J. C., Blankenstein, A. H., & van der Horst, H. E. (2021). Tests for central sensitization in general practice: A Delphi study. BMC Family Practice, 22, Article 194. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12875-021-01539-0
Goudman, L., De Smedt, A., Noppen, M., & Moens, M. (2021). Is central sensitisation the missing link of persisting symptoms after COVID-19 infection? Journal of Clinical Medicine, 10(23), Article 5594. https://doi.org/10.3390/jcm10235594
Gräper, P. J., Scafoglieri, A., Clark, J. R., & Hallegraeff, J. M. (2024). Sensory profiles predict symptoms of central sensitization in low back pain: A predictive model research study. Journal of Clinical Medicine, 13(16), Article 4677. https://doi.org/10.3390/jcm13164677
Guekos, A., Larsen, D. B., Vase, L., & Petersen, K. K. (2024). Healthy women show more experimentally induced central sensitization compared with men. Pain, 165(6), 1413–1424. https://doi.org/10.1097/j.pain.0000000000003144
Halili, A. (2020). Patient Identified Problem (PIP) scale: Validity, reliability, responsiveness, likelihood ratio, and minimal clinically important difference. Physical Therapy and Rehabilitation, 7(1), Article 4. https://doi.org/10.7243/2055-2386-7-4
Halili, A. (2021a). Control of internal validity threats in a modified adaptive platform design using Halili Physical Therapy Statistical Analysis Tool (HPTSAT). MethodsX, 8, Article 101232. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.mex.2021.101232
Halili, A. (2021b). Physical therapy for the treatment of respiratory issues using Systemic Manual Therapy protocols. Journal of Bodywork and Movement Therapies, 27, 113–126. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jbmt.2021.02.009
Halili, A. (2022). Temporal model for central sensitization: A hypothesis for mechanism and treatment using systemic manual therapy, a focused review. MethodsX, 10, Article 101942. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.mex.2022.101942
Halili, A. (2024a). Systemic manual therapy to treat long-term residuals following COVID-19-related ICU stay: A case report. Journal of Bodywork and Movement Therapies, 37, 131–135. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jbmt.2023.11.031
Halili, A. (2024b). Treatment for the central sensitization component of knee pain using systemic manual therapy. Douleurs: Évaluation–Diagnostic–Traitement, 25(2), 72–80. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.douler.2024.01.002
Halili, A. (2025a). Physical therapy treatment for facial and jaw pain associated with trigeminal neuralgia using Systemic Manual Therapy (SMT). Advances in Integrative Medicine, 12(2), Article 100449. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.aimed.2024.12.009
Halili, A. (2025b). Systemic manual therapy is better than exercises for hip pain: Does it really matter? Journal of Bodywork and Movement Therapies, 42, 1052–1056. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jbmt.2025.03.014
Halili, A. (2026). Treatment of pelvic pain using systemic manual therapy. Journal of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, 8(1), 25–30.
Halili, A., & Mischler, J. (2026). A retrospective CDSS analysis to compare standardized and non-standardized treatment for central sensitization using systemic manual therapy. Journal of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, 8(1), 94–102.
Hladkykh, F., Liadova, T., Matvieienko, M., Komorovsky, R., Smiyan, S., & Student, V. (2026). Central sensitization and nociplastic pain: Shared mechanisms in fibromyalgia, osteoarthritis, and inflammatory arthritis. Journal of Pain Research, 19, 1–36. https://doi.org/10.2147/JPR.S571311
Ji, R.-R., Nackley, A., Huh, Y., Terrando, N., & Maixner, W. (2018). Neuroinflammation and central sensitization in chronic and widespread pain. Anesthesiology, 129(2), 343–366. https://doi.org/10.1097/ALN.0000000000002130
Kılıçaslan, H. Ö., Genç, A., & Tuncer, S. (2022). Central sensitization in osteoarthritic knee pain: A cross-sectional study. Turkish Journal of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, 69(1), 89–96. https://doi.org/10.5606/tftrd.2023.10470
Lütolf, R., Rosner, J., Curt, A., & Hubli, M. (2023). Indication of central sensitization in chronic neuropathic pain after spinal cord injury. European Journal of Pain, 27(5), 613–626. https://doi.org/10.1002/ejp.2028
Martínez-Lavín, M. (2022). Centralized nociplastic pain causing fibromyalgia: An emperor with no clothes? Clinical Rheumatology, 41(12), 3915–3917. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10067-022-06407-5
Mendell, L. M. (2022). The path to discovery of windup and central sensitization. Frontiers in Pain Research, 3, Article 833104. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpain.2022.833104
Nijs, J., Malfliet, A., & Nishigami, T. (2023). Nociplastic pain and central sensitization in patients with chronic pain conditions: A terminology update for clinicians. Brazilian Journal of Physical Therapy, 27(3), Article 100518. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.bjpt.2023.100518
Ohashi, Y., Uchida, K., Fukushima, K., Inoue, G., & Takaso, M. (2023). Mechanisms of peripheral and central sensitization in osteoarthritis pain. Cureus, 15(2), Article e35331. https://doi.org/10.7759/cureus.35331
Opara, J. A., Saulicz, E., Szczygieł, J. W., & Szczygieł, K. (2025). Is the central sensitization in chronic nonspecific low back pain a structural phenomenon or psychological reaction? A narrative review. Journal of Clinical Medicine, 14(2), Article 577. https://doi.org/10.3390/jcm14020577
Sato, G. T., & Halili, A. (2025). Treatment for central sensitization and shoulder pain using Systemic Manual Therapy (SMT). Journal of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, 7(1), 98–105. https://doi.org/10.33696/rehabilitation.7.051
Schuttert, I., Timmerman, H., Petersen, K. K., McPhee, M. E., Arendt-Nielsen, L., Reneman, M. F., & Wolff, A. P. (2021). The definition, assessment, and prevalence of (human assumed) central sensitisation in patients with chronic low back pain: A systematic review. Journal of Clinical Medicine, 10(24), Article 5931. https://doi.org/10.3390/jcm10245931
Soni, A., Wanigasekera, V., Mezue, M., Cooper, C., Javaid, M. K., Price, A. J., & Tracey, I. (2019). Central sensitization in knee osteoarthritis: Relating presurgical brainstem neuroimaging and PainDETECT-based patient stratification to arthroplasty outcome. Arthritis & Rheumatology, 71(4), 550–560. https://doi.org/10.1002/art.40749
Tomašević-Todorović, S., & Spasojević, G. (2023). Central sensitization in patients with chronic musculoskeletal pain. Acta Clinica Croatica, 62(Supplement 4). https://doi.org/10.20471/acc.2023.62.s4.15
Verbrugghe, J., Agten, A., Stevens, S., Vandenabeele, F., Roussel, N., Verbunt, J., Goossens, N., & Timmermans, A. (2023). High intensity training improves symptoms of central sensitization at six-month follow-up in persons with chronic nonspecific low back pain: Secondary analysis of a randomized controlled trial. Brazilian Journal of Physical Therapy, 27, Article 100496. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.bjpt.2023.100496
Williams, D. A. (2018). Phenotypic features of central sensitization. Journal of Applied Biobehavioral Research, 23(2), Article e12135. https://doi.org/10.1111/jabr.12135
Zheng, P., Zhang, W., Leng, J., & Lang, J. (2019). Research on central sensitization of endometriosis-associated pain: A systematic review of the literature. Journal of Pain Research, 12, 1447–1456. https://doi.org/10.2147/JPR.S197667

Este trabalho está licenciado sob uma licença Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
Copyright (c) 2026 Ramon Gambugge Bueno
