Sliding Pressure Algometer, a Development in Eliciting Pressure Pain Thresholds at the Boundaries of Surface Markings of Abnormally Tender Regions

2011 ◽  
Vol 29 (2) ◽  
pp. 131-134
Author(s):  
Alexander John R Macdonald
Keyword(s):  
Pain Thresholds ◽  
Pressure Pain ◽  
Pressure Pain Thresholds ◽  
Pressure Algometer ◽  
Sliding Pressure

scholarly journals The Relationship between Fibromyalgia and Pressure Pain Threshold in Patients with Dyspareunia

2015 ◽  
Vol 20 (3) ◽  
pp. 137-140 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hasan Terzi ◽  
Rabia Terzi ◽  
Ahmet Kale
Keyword(s):  
Beck Depression Inventory ◽  
Pain Threshold ◽  
Pressure Pain Threshold ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Tender Points ◽  
Pain Thresholds ◽  
Pressure Pain ◽  
Pressure Pain Thresholds ◽  
Pressure Algometer ◽  
Significant Difference

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the number of tender points, pressure pain threshold and presence of fibromyalgia among women with or without dyspareunia.METHODS: The present cross-sectional study included 40 patients with dyspareunia and 30 healthy controls. The participants were asked if they had engaged in sexual intercourse during the previous four weeks, and dyspareunia was rated from 0 to 3 based on the Marinoff Dyspareunia Scale. A pressure algometer (dolorimeter) was used to measure the pressure pain threshold. Fibromyalgia was diagnosed based on the 1990 American College of Rheumatology criteria. The depression status of the participants was assessed using the Beck Depression Inventory.RESULTS: No statistically significant difference was found with regard to age, body mass index, habits (alcohol use and smoking), educational status and occupational status between the two groups. Total myalgic score, total control score and tender point mean pain threshold were significantly lower in the group with dyspareunia. The number of tender points was significantly higher in patients with dyspareunia. The mean Beck Depression Inventory score was 14.7 ±8.4 in the dyspareunia group compared with 11.2 ±7.1 in the control group. Five (12.5%) of the patients with dyspareunia were diagnosed with fibromyalgia, whereas no patients in the control group were diagnosed with fibromyalgia. There was no significant difference between the two groups with regard to the presence of fibromyalgia.CONCLUSION: The finding of lower pressure pain thresholds and a higher number of tender points among patients with dyspareunia suggests that these patients may have increased generalized pain thresholds. Additional studies involving a larger number of patients are required to investigate the presence of central mechanisms in the pathogenesis of dyspareunia.

scholarly journals Pressure pain thresholds in individuals with knee pain: a cross-sectional study

2021 ◽  
Vol 22 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Charlotte Sylwander ◽  
Ingrid Larsson ◽  
Emma Haglund ◽  
Stefan Bergman ◽  
Maria L.E. Andersson
Keyword(s):  
Knee Pain ◽  
Body Fat ◽  
Pain Sensitivity ◽  
Body Fat Percentage ◽  
Tender Points ◽  
Fat Percentage ◽  
Pain Thresholds ◽  
Pressure Pain ◽  
Pressure Pain Thresholds ◽  
Pressure Algometer

Abstract Background Knee osteoarthritis (KOA), chronic widespread pain (CWP) and overweight/obesity are public health problems that often coincide, and there is a multifactorial and unclear relationship between them. The study aimed to (1) investigate pain sensitivity, assessed by pressure pain thresholds (PPTs), among women and men with knee pain and (2) associations with, respectively, radiographic KOA (rKOA), CWP, and overweight/obesity. Methods Baseline data from an ongoing longitudinal study involving 280 individuals with knee pain in the 30–60 age group. Pain sensitivity was assessed by PPTs on eight different tender points using a pressure algometer. The participants’ knees were x-rayed. Self-reported CWP and number of pain sites were assessed with a pain figure, and overweight/obesity was measured using body mass index (BMI), visceral fat area (VFA), and body fat percentage, assessed with a bioimpedance. Associations were analysed using regression analyses. Results Women reported lower PPTs than men (p < 0.001), but no PPTs differences were found between those with and without rKOA. Low PPTs was associated with female sex, more pain sites, CWP, and a higher VFA and body fat percentage. The tender points second rib and the knees were most affected. The prevalence of CWP was 38 %. Conclusions The modifiable factors, increased VFA, and body fat could be associated with increased pain sensitivity among individuals with knee pain. Longitudinal studies are needed to further investigate the associations.

scholarly journals Relationship Between Pressure Pain Threshold and Coping Strategies in Patients with Fibromyalgia

1998 ◽  
Vol 3 (1) ◽  
pp. 23-32 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ji-Young Song ◽  
Samuel Noh ◽  
Manfred Harth ◽  
Harold Merskey
Keyword(s):  
Chronic Pain ◽  
Coping Strategies ◽  
Pressure Pain Threshold ◽  
Pain Coping ◽  
Pain Thresholds ◽  
Pressure Pain ◽  
Behavioural Activity ◽  
Pressure Pain Thresholds ◽  
Pressure Algometer ◽  
And Coping

OBJECTIVE: To explore the hypothesis that the intensity of pain, pain thresholds and coping mechanisms differ between patients with fibromyalgia and those with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) in order to determine whether pain coping strategies contribute to the understanding of how patients adjust to fibromyalgia.METHODS: Thirty-eight fibromyalgia patients were compared with 15 RA patients regarding severity of pain, pain history, pressure pain thresholds (measured with a pressure algometer) and pain coping strategies (measured with the Coping Strategies Questionnaire [CSQ]).RESULTS: Fibromyalgia patients scored significantly higher than RA patients on severity of pain and had lower pain thresholds at three pairs of nontender sites than the RA group. Fibromyalgia patients were significantly different from RA patients with respect to catastrophizing and increasing behavioural activity, but this differentiation was not maintained with respect to the three main factors of the CSQ. Overall, both the fibromyalgia and RA groups resembled previous chronic pain populations. Depression and anxiety had strong negative correlations with the combined coping scores on the seven subscales (P<0.001).CONCLUSIONS: Patients with fibromyalgia may use some distinctive coping strategies and tend to manage their pain in many of the same ways as other patients with chronic pain.

scholarly journals High concurrent validity between digital and analogue algometers to measure pressure pain thresholds in healthy participants and people with migraine: a cross-sectional study

2021 ◽  
Vol 22 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
René F. Castien ◽  
Michel W. Coppieters ◽  
Tom S. C. Durge ◽  
Gwendolyne G. M. Scholten-Peeters
Keyword(s):  
Concurrent Validity ◽  
Tibialis Anterior Muscle ◽  
Intraclass Correlation ◽  
Cephalic Region ◽  
Limits Of Agreement ◽  
Temporal Muscle ◽  
Pain Thresholds ◽  
Pressure Pain ◽  
Pressure Pain Thresholds ◽  
Healthy Participants

Abstract Background Pressure pain thresholds (PPTs) are commonly assessed to quantify mechanical sensitivity in various conditions, including migraine. Digital and analogue algometers are used, but the concurrent validity between these algometers is unknown. Therefore, we assessed the concurrent validity between a digital and analogue algometer to determine PPTs in healthy participants and people with migraine. Methods Twenty-six healthy participants and twenty-nine people with migraine participated in the study. PPTs were measured interictally and bilaterally at the cephalic region (temporal muscle, C1 paraspinal muscles, and trapezius muscle) and extra-cephalic region (extensor carpi radialis muscle and tibialis anterior muscle). PPTs were first determined with a digital algometer, followed by an analogue algometer. Intraclass correlation coefficients (ICC3.1) and limits of agreement were calculated to quantify concurrent validity. Results The concurrent validity between algometers in both groups was moderate to excellent (ICC3.1 ranged from 0.82 to 0.99, with 95%CI: 0.65 to 0.99). Although PPTs measured with the analogue algometer were higher at most locations in both groups (p < 0.05), the mean differences between both devices were less than 18.3 kPa. The variation in methods, such as a hand-held switch (digital algometer) versus verbal commands (analogue algometer) to indicate when the threshold was reached, may explain these differences in scores. The limits of agreement varied per location and between healthy participants and people with migraine. Conclusion The concurrent validity between the digital and analogue algometer is excellent in healthy participants and moderate in people with migraine. Both types of algometer are well-suited for research and clinical practice but are not exchangeable within a study or patient follow-up.

The tolerance to stretch is linked with endogenous modulation of pain

2021 ◽  
Vol 0 (0) ◽  
Author(s):  
Morten Pallisgaard Støve ◽  
Rogerio Pessoto Hirata ◽  
Thorvaldur Skuli Palsson
Keyword(s):  
Range Of Motion ◽  
Pain Sensitivity ◽  
Cold Pressor Test ◽  
Cold Pressor ◽  
Static Stretch ◽  
Pain Thresholds ◽  
Pressure Pain ◽  
Pressor Test ◽  
Pressure Pain Thresholds ◽  
Exercise Induced

Abstract Objectives The effect of stretching on joint range of motion is well documented, and although sensory perception has significance for changes in the tolerance to stretch following stretching the underlining mechanisms responsible for these changes is insufficiently understood. The aim of this study was to examine the influence of endogenous pain inhibitory mechanisms on stretch tolerance and to investigate the relationship between range of motion and changes in pain sensitivity. Methods Nineteen healthy males participated in this randomized, repeated-measures crossover study, conducted on 2 separate days. Knee extension range of motion, passive resistive torque, and pressure pain thresholds were recorded before, after, and 10 min after each of four experimental conditions; (i) Exercise-induced hypoalgesia, (ii) two bouts of static stretching, (iii) resting, and (iv) a remote, painful stimulus induced by the cold pressor test. Results Exercise-induced hypoalgesia and cold pressor test caused an increase in range of motion (p<0.034) and pressure pain thresholds (p<0.027). Moderate correlations in pressure pain thresholds were found between exercise-induced hypoalgesia and static stretch (Rho>0.507, p=0.01) and exercise-induced hypoalgesia and the cold pressor test (Rho=0.562, p=0.01). A weak correlation in pressure pain thresholds and changes in range of motion were found following the cold pressor test (Rho=0.460, p=0.047). However, a potential carryover hypoalgesic effect may have affected the results of the static stretch. Conclusions These results suggest that stretch tolerance may be linked with endogenous modulation of pain. Present results suggest, that stretch tolerance may merely be a marker for pain sensitivity which may have clinical significance given that stretching is often prescribed in the rehabilitation of different musculoskeletal pain conditions where reduced endogenous pain inhibition is frequently seen.

scholarly journals Pressure pain thresholds fluctuate with, but do not usefully predict, the clinical course of painful temporomandibular disorder

Pain ◽  
2014 ◽  
Vol 155 (10) ◽  
pp. 2134-2143 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gary D. Slade ◽  
Anne E. Sanders ◽  
Richard Ohrbach ◽  
Roger B. Fillingim ◽  
Ron Dubner ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Clinical Course ◽  
Temporomandibular Disorder ◽  
Pain Thresholds ◽  
Pressure Pain ◽  
Pressure Pain Thresholds

The Effects of an Acute Maximal Seated Lumbar Spine Flexion Exposure on Low Back Mechanical Pain Sensitivity

2021 ◽  
pp. 1-8
Author(s):  
Daniel Viggiani ◽  
Jack P. Callaghan
Keyword(s):  
Lumbar Spine ◽  
Pain Sensitivity ◽  
Recovery Period ◽  
Low Back ◽  
Pain Thresholds ◽  
Pressure Algometry ◽  
Pressure Pain ◽  
Pressure Pain Thresholds ◽  
Sensitivity Changes ◽  
Neural Feedback

Viscoelastic creep generated in the lumbar spine following sustained spine flexion may affect the relationship between tissue damage and perceived pain. Two processes supporting this altered relationship include altered neural feedback and inflammatory processes. Our purpose was to determine how low back mechanical pain sensitivity changes following seated lumbar spine flexion using pressure algometry in a repeated-measures, cross-sectional laboratory design. Thirty-eight participants underwent a 10-minute sustained seated maximal flexion exposure with a 40-minute standing recovery period. Pressure algometry assessed pressure pain thresholds and the perceived intensity and unpleasantness of fixed pressures. Accelerometers measured spine flexion angles, and electromyography measured muscular activity during flexion. The flexion exposure produced 4.4° (2.7°) of creep that persisted throughout the entire recovery period. The perception of low back stimulus unpleasantness was elevated immediately following the exposure, 20 minutes before a delayed increase in lumbar erector spinae muscle activity. Women reported the fixed pressures to be more intense than men. Sustained flexion had immediate consequences to the quality of mechanical stimulus perceived but did not alter pressure pain thresholds. Neural feedback and inflammation seemed unlikely mechanisms for this given the time and direction of pain sensitivity changes, leaving a postulated cortical influence.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document