scholarly journals Pain threshold - measure of pain sensitivity or social behavior?

Psihologija ◽  
2016 ◽  
Vol 49 (1) ◽  
pp. 37-50 ◽  
Author(s):  
Koraljka Modic-Stanke ◽  
Dragutin Ivanec
Keyword(s):  
Pain Sensitivity ◽  
Pain Threshold ◽  
Pressure Pain Threshold ◽  
Professional Status ◽  
Pain Thresholds ◽  
Factorial Anova ◽  
Lower Status ◽  
Threshold Measure ◽  
Males And Females ◽  
Main Effects

The aim was to examine the effect of the experimenter?s social status and its interaction with participant?s gender on pressure pain threshold. Both male and female students participated in the study (N = 96) and were evenly assigned into two groups which differed only in the professional status of the experimenter who was a professor (higher status) in one group and a student (lower status) in the other. The factorial ANOVA revealed statistically significant and large main effects of the experimenter?s status and the participants? gender, indicating higher pain thresholds in male participants and in the higher status experimenter group. Although both males and females had higher pain thresholds when measured by a higher status experimenter, a statistically significant interaction revealed that status affected male participants more so than females. The obtained results are probably due to social behaviour, emphasizing relevance of the experimenter?s and participants? characteristics in pain measurement.

scholarly journals Does It Hurt?

2019 ◽  
Vol 28 (2) ◽  
pp. 231-249
Author(s):  
Koraljka Modić Stanke ◽  
Dragutin Ivanec ◽  
Luka Butić
Keyword(s):  
Pain Assessment ◽  
Pain Threshold ◽  
The Other ◽  
Professional Status ◽  
Pain Thresholds ◽  
Thermal Pain ◽  
Lower Status ◽  
Moderate Effect ◽  
Electrical Stimuli ◽  
Pain Unpleasantness

The aim of this paper is to determine whether experimenter's professional status (Study 1) and familiarity (Study 2) affect participant's pain assessment, even when there are no other differences in the experimenter's characteristics. Both studies measured pain threshold and tolerance, and assessment of pain unpleasantness and intensity induced by thermal and electrical stimuli. In Study 1, experimenter introduced himself to participants as either a student (lower status) or an expert associate (higher status). ANOVA revealed significant and moderate to large effect of status only in thermal modality; as expected, participants tested by the higher status experimenter displayed higher thermal pain thresholds and tolerances. In Study 2, another experimenter conducted all the measurements; hers (higher) status was previously familiar to one group of students and disclosed to the other group just before the measurement. ANOVA revealed statistically significant and moderate effect of familiarity only in electrical modality; as expected, participants tested by the familiar higher status experimenter displayed higher electrical pain thresholds and tolerances. These results suggest that not only the professional status of a person measuring pain, but also individual's familiarity with it influences someone's pain assessment. With this in mind, researchers are encouraged to conduct studies that control for these factors and to include more information regarding experimenter's characteristics within their reports.

scholarly journals Myalgia in 30 Patients with Suspected Myopathy

2020 ◽  
Vol 17 (7) ◽  
pp. 2502
Author(s):  
Diana Lehmann Urban ◽  
Elizabeth Lehmann ◽  
Leila Motlagh Scholle ◽  
Torsten Kraya
Keyword(s):  
Pain Intensity ◽  
Polymyalgia Rheumatica ◽  
Pain Sensitivity ◽  
Pain Threshold ◽  
Neuromuscular Disorders ◽  
Pressure Pain Threshold ◽  
Neuromuscular Disorder ◽  
Weak Correlation ◽  
Pressure Pain ◽  
Significant Difference

Background: In patients with neuromuscular disorder, only little data of myalgia frequency and characterization exists. To date, only a weak correlation between pain intensity and pressure pain threshold has been found, and it remains enigmatic whether high pain intensity levels are equivalent to high pain sensitivity levels in neuromuscular disorders. Methods: 30 sequential patients with suspected neuromuscular disorder and myalgia were analyzed with regard to myalgia characteristics and clinical findings, including symptoms of depression and anxiety and pain- threshold. Results: A neuromuscular disorder was diagnosed in 14/30 patients. Muscular pain fasciculation syndrome (MPFS) without evidence for myopathy or myositis was diagnosed in 10/30 patients and 6/30 patients were diagnosed with pure myalgia without evidence for a neuromuscular disorder (e.g., myopathy, myositis, MPFS, polymyalgia rheumatica). Highest median pain scores were found in patients with pure myalgia and polymyalgia rheumatica. Pressure pain threshold measurement showed a significant difference between patients and controls in the biceps brachii muscle. Conclusion: Only a weak correlation between pain intensity and pressure pain threshold has been suggested, which is concordant with our results. The hypothesis that high pain intensity levels are equivalent to high pain sensitivity levels was not demonstrated.

scholarly journals Modulatory Effect of Probiotic Lactobacillus rhamnosus PB01 on Mechanical Sensitivity in a Female Diet-Induced Obesity Model

2021 ◽  
Vol 2021 ◽  
pp. 1-8
Author(s):  
Hiva Alipour ◽  
Parisa Gazerani ◽  
Mahmoud Heidari ◽  
Fereshteh Dardmeh
Keyword(s):  
Weight Loss ◽  
Pain Sensitivity ◽  
Pressure Pain Threshold ◽  
Lactobacillus Rhamnosus ◽  
Normal Weight ◽  
Mechanical Sensitivity ◽  
Probiotic Supplementation ◽  
Pain Thresholds ◽  
Diet Induced Obesity ◽  
Mechanical Pain Thresholds

Obese animals and humans demonstrate higher sensitivity to pain stimuli. Among the endogenous factors prompting obesity, the intestinal microbiota has been proposed to influence responsiveness to pain. The beneficial effects of probiotics on obesity are well documented, whereas data on their analgesic efficacy is minimal. The protective effect of probiotics on nociception in diet-induced obese male mice has been previously demonstrated, but the sex differences in pain sensitivity and analgesic response do not allow for the generalization of these findings to the female gender. Hence, this study aimed at investigating the potential effects of oral probiotic supplementation on mechanical pain thresholds in female diet-induced obese mice compared with controls. Thirty-two adult female mice ( N = 32 ) were randomly divided into two groups receiving standard (normal-weight group; NW) or high-fat diet (diet-induced obesity; DIO). All rats received a single daily dose (1 × 109 CFU) of probiotics (Lactobacillus rhamnosus PB01, DSM14870) for four weeks by gavage. Mechanical pain thresholds were recorded by an electronic von Frey device at baseline, at the end of weeks 2, 4, 6, and 8 in both DIO and NW groups with and without consumption of probiotics. Blood samples were obtained for the measurement of lipid profile and reproductive hormone levels. Bodyweight was considerably lower ( P < 0.001 ) in groups supplied with probiotics than groups without probiotics. Pressure pain threshold values showed a significant ( P < 0.001 ) increase (reduced pain sensitivity) following probiotic supplementation, proposing a modulatory effect of probiotics on mechanical sensory circuits and mechanical sensitivity, which might be a direct consequence of weight loss or an indirect result of the probiotics’ anti-inflammatory properties. Understanding the precise underlying mechanism for the effect of probiotics on weight loss and mechanical pain sensitivity seen in this study warrants further investigation.

scholarly journals Preventative Taping in Futsal: An Exploratory Analysis of Low-Dye Taping on Planter Force Distribution and Pain Sensitivity

2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (2) ◽  
pp. 540
Author(s):  
Sebastian Klich ◽  
Biye Wang ◽  
Aiguo Chen ◽  
Jun Yan ◽  
Adam Kawczyński
Keyword(s):  
Plantar Pressure ◽  
Pain Sensitivity ◽  
Pain Threshold ◽  
Pressure Pain Threshold ◽  
Force Distribution ◽  
Pressure Pain ◽  
Lower Extremity Injuries ◽  
Foot Force ◽  
Extremity Injuries ◽  
The Right

The purpose of the present study was to investigate the changes in plantar foot force distribution (i.e., the percentage of force and force distribution under the rearfoot and forefoot) and plantar pressure pain sensitivity maps in professional futsal players after long-term low-dye taping (LDT). The subjects (n = 25) were male futsal players (age 23.03 ± 1.15 years). During the experiment, a nonelastic tape was applied on the plantar foot surface according to the standards of LDP. The experimental protocol consisted of a 3-day cycle during which the plantar foot force distribution (FFD) and plantar pressure pain threshold (PPT) were measured: (1) before the tape was applied, (2) 24 h after application, and (3) 72 h after application. The results revealed a significant decrease in the force distribution under the rearfoot (p ≤ 0.001) and forefoot (p ≤ 0.001) on the right and left sides. Moreover, the results showed an increase in the plantar pressure pain threshold in all regions of the foot (p ≤ 0.001). The results of this study suggest that plantar fascial taping can be an effective method for normalizing the force distribution on the foot and reducing the plantar pain threshold. The findings provide useful information regarding the prevention of and physical therapy of lower extremity injuries in soccer and futsal.

scholarly journals The Relationship between Acculturation and Experimental Pain Sensitivity in Asian Americans with Knee Osteoarthritis

2018 ◽  
Vol 2018 ◽  
pp. 1-6 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hyochol Ahn ◽  
Setor K. Sorkpor ◽  
Miyong Kim ◽  
Hongyu Miao ◽  
Chengxue Zhong ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Asian Americans ◽  
Pain Sensitivity ◽  
Pain Threshold ◽  
Pressure Pain Threshold ◽  
Experimental Pain ◽  
Pain Tolerance ◽  
Sociocultural Factors ◽  
Regression Analyses ◽  
Experimental Pain Sensitivity ◽  
The Relationship

Multiple studies in healthy populations and clinical samples have shown that ethnic minorities have greater pain sensitivity than their majority counterparts. Acculturation is speculated to be one of the sociocultural factors contributing to pain sensitivity since cultural beliefs and practices can influence the way patients perceive and respond to pain. However, the relationship of acculturation to pain sensitivity in minority populations remains poorly understood. Therefore, in this cross-sectional study, we examined the relationship between acculturation and experimental pain sensitivity in 50 Asian Americans residing in North Central Florida with knee osteoarthritis pain. The Suinn-Lew Asian Self Identity Acculturation Scale was used to assess acculturation, and multimodal quantitative sensory testing was performed to measure experimental sensitivity, including heat pain tolerance, pressure pain threshold, and punctate mechanical pain. Descriptive and regression analyses were performed. Participants’ mean age was 55.7 years, and about half of this sample were Korean American (56%). The participants had lived in the United States for 21 years on average. Regression analyses indicated that lower acculturation to American culture may contribute to greater experimental pain sensitivity. Asian Americans who were more acculturated to the American culture had higher heat pain tolerance (beta = 0.61, P=0.01), higher pressure pain threshold (beta = 0.59, P=0.02), and lower ratings of punctate mechanical pain (beta = −0.70, P<0.01). These findings add to the literature regarding sociocultural factors associated with pain in Asian Americans; additional research with a larger and more diverse sample of Asian Americans is warranted for cross-validation.

Pain sensitivity and aromatase inhibitor (AI)-associated arthralgias (AIAA).

2013 ◽  
Vol 31 (15_suppl) ◽  
pp. 9615-9615
Author(s):  
Norah Lynn Henry ◽  
Steven Harte ◽  
Anna S.C. Conlon ◽  
Kent A. Griffith ◽  
Gabriela Ramirez ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Breast Cancer ◽  
Pain Sensitivity ◽  
Pain Threshold ◽  
Early Stage ◽  
Pressure Pain Threshold ◽  
Early Stage Breast Cancer ◽  
Serum Estradiol ◽  
Estrogen Deprivation ◽  
Pressure Pain ◽  
Patient Reported

9615 Background: AIAA affect up to half of AI-treated women with early stage breast cancer, and can lead to treatment discontinuation in 20-30%. The etiology is thought to be related to estrogen deprivation although the mechanism is unknown. In premenopausal women, lower estrogen levels have been associated with increased pain. Impaired descending pain inhibitory pathways, which may be a risk factor for developing chronic pain, have also been associated with lower estrogen levels. We prospectively tested whether AI-induced estrogen deprivation alters pain sensitivity, thereby increasing the risk of developing AIAA. Methods: Fifty postmenopausal women with early stage breast cancer initiating AI therapy were enrolled to the study. Subjects underwent experimental pressure pain testing and conditioned pain modulation (CPM) assessment and completed symptom questionnaires prior to AI initiation and after 3 months. Positive CPM values (>0) signify impaired descending pain inhibition. Serum estradiol concentrations were determined using an ultrasensitive assay. T-tests, Fisher’s exact test, and linear regression models were used to assess associations among baseline (BL) experimental pain measures, patient-reported pain, and clinical factors. P values <0.05 were considered statistically significant. Results: All subjects had decreased serum estradiol concentrations with AI therapy. No statistically significant change in pressure pain threshold or CPM with AI therapy was detected. In addition, no association between change in patient-reported pain with AI therapy and change in pain threshold or CPM was identified. Patients demonstrated impaired CPM at baseline (mean 8.0, SD 14.9), and this impairment was greater in patients previously treated with chemotherapy 14.4 vs 2.0, p=0.006), with non-significant trends towards this being more pronounced in those with more severe pain. Conclusions: AI therapy did not impact pressure pain threshold or CPM, suggesting that AIAA is not likely due to pain amplification from estrogen depletion. Studies examining chemotherapy-induced changes in pain processing are needed to better understand how these alterations might contribute to the pain that these patients often develop.

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 “Big girls don’t cry”: the effect of the experimenter’s sex and pain catastrophising on pain

2021 ◽  
Vol 0 (0) ◽  
Author(s):  
Lechi Vo ◽  
Peter D. Drummond
Keyword(s):  
Pressure Pain Threshold ◽  
Potential Interaction ◽  
Lower Pressure ◽  
Experimental Conditions ◽  
Pain Thresholds ◽  
Pressure Pain ◽  
Pain Catastrophising ◽  
Pressure Pain Thresholds ◽  
Males And Females ◽  
Pain Reports

Abstract Objectives The expression of pain in males and females involves complex socio-psychological mechanisms. Males may report lower pain to a female experimenter to appear strong, whereas females may report higher pain to a male experimenter to appear weak and to seek protection. However, evidence to support these stereotypes is inconclusive. Individuals who catastrophise about pain rate higher pain than those who do not. How pain catastrophising interacts with the effect of the experimenter’s sex on pain reports is yet to be explored. Thus, the aim of this study was to determine whether pain catastrophising moderated the effect of the experimenter’s sex on pain reports in healthy males and females. Methods Participants (n=60, 30 males) were assigned to one of four experimental conditions: males tested by male experimenters, males tested by female experimenters, females tested by male experimenters, and females tested by female experimenters. Participants completed the Pain Catastrophising Scale, and then sensitivity to heat and to blunt (pressure-pain threshold) and sharp stimuli was assessed on both forearms, and to high frequency electrical stimulation (HFS) administered to one forearm. Results Females reported lower pressure-pain thresholds than males irrespective of the experimenters’ sex. Females reported lower sharpness ratings to male than female experimenters only when the test stimuli were moderately or intensely sharp. Higher pain catastrophising scores were associated with higher sharpness ratings in females but not males. Additionally, higher pain catastrophising scores were associated with greater temporal summation of pain to HFS, and with lower pressure-pain thresholds in females who were tested by male experimenters. Conclusions These findings indicate that the experimenters’ sex and the participant’s pain catastrophising score influence pain reports, particularly in females. Awareness of these psychosocial factors is important in order to interpret pain responses in a meaningful way, especially when females are tested by male experimenters. A greater awareness of sex/gender role biases and their potential interaction with pain catastrophising may help researchers and clinicians to interpret pain reports in meaningful ways. In turn, this may help to improve delivery of treatments for patients with chronic pain.

Cardiovascular responses to and modulation of pressure pain sensitivity in normotensive, pain-free women

2012 ◽  
Vol 3 (3) ◽  
pp. 165-169 ◽  
Author(s):  
Christine Mohn ◽  
Olav Vassend ◽  
Stein Knardahl
Keyword(s):  
Pain Sensitivity ◽  
Pain Threshold ◽  
Pressure Pain Threshold ◽  
Cardiovascular Responses ◽  
Pressure Pain ◽  
Pain Stimulation ◽  
The Right ◽  
The Relationship ◽  
Free Women ◽  
Analogue Scales

AbstractBackground and purposeThe psychophysiological responses to and modulation of pressure pain stimulation are relatively new areas of investigation. The aims of the present study were to characterize subjective and cardiovascular (CV) responses to pressure pain stimulation, and to examine the relationship between CV responding and pain pressure pain sensitivity.MethodsThirty-nine pain-free, normotensive women were included in the study and tested during the follicular phase of their menstrual cycles. Pain threshold and tolerance were recorded at the right masseter muscle and the sternum, and visual analogue scales (VAS) were used to rate both pain intensity (the sensory dimension) and discomfort (the affective dimension). Mean arterial pressure (MAP), heart rate (HR), and facial and digital skin blood flux (SBF) were registered continuously.ResultsThe pain threshold and tolerance were significantly higher at the sternum compared with the masseter, but the level of affective distress was higher at the masseter tolerance point. No associations emerged between pressure pain threshold and tolerance stimulation levels, and the corresponding VAS ratings. Pressure pain stimulation of the masseter induced significant increases in MAP, HR, and a decrease in digital SBF. During sternum pressure stimulation a significant change in HR and digital SBF was observed. There were no significant correlations between CV responding and pressure pain sensitivity.ConclusionHealthy women seem to display higher pressure pain sensitivity at the masseter region relative to the sternum. Pressure pain stimulation was associated with significant changes in MAP, HR, and SBF, but was not modulated by CV responses. The validity of these findings is strengthened by our control for menstrual cycle events, weekend-related changes in physiology, and CV changes during pain stimulation.ImplicationsThis study extends previous reports of SBF sensitivity to electrocutaneous pain into the field of pressure stimulation. Moreover, this study suggests that the often demonstrated association between high BP and low pain sensitivity may not apply to pressure pain specifically. Alternatively, this finding adds to the literature of gender differences in the relationship between CV responding and acute pain sensitivity in general.

Pressure and cold pain threshold reference values in a large, young adult, pain-free population

2016 ◽  
Vol 13 (1) ◽  
pp. 114-122 ◽  
Author(s):  
Robert Waller ◽  
Anne Julia Smith ◽  
Peter Bruce O’Sullivan ◽  
Helen Slater ◽  
Michele Sterling ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Reference Values ◽  
Pain Sensitivity ◽  
Pain Threshold ◽  
Pressure Pain Threshold ◽  
Specific Reference ◽  
Threshold Values ◽  
Cold Pain ◽  
Pressure Pain ◽  
Clinical Pain

AbstractBackground and aimsCurrently there is a lack of large population studies that have investigated pain sensitivity distributions in healthy pain free people. The aims of this study were: (1) to provide sex-specific reference values of pressure and cold pain thresholds in young pain-free adults; (2) to examine the association of potential correlates of pain sensitivity with pain threshold values.MethodsThis study investigated sex specific pressure and cold pain threshold estimates for young pain free adults aged 21–24 years. A cross-sectional design was utilised using participants (n =617) from the Western Australian Pregnancy Cohort (Raine) Study at the 22-year follow-up. The association of site, sex, height, weight, smoking, health related quality oflife, psychological measures and activity with pain threshold values was examined. Pressure pain threshold (lumbar spine, tibialis anterior, neck and dorsal wrist) and cold pain threshold (dorsal wrist) were assessed using standardised quantitative sensory testing protocols.ResultsReference values for pressure pain threshold (four body sites) stratified by sex and site, and cold pain threshold (dorsal wrist) stratified by sex are provided. Statistically significant, independent correlates of increased pressure pain sensitivity measures were site (neck, dorsal wrist), sex (female), higher waist-hip ratio and poorer mental health. Statistically significant, independent correlates of increased cold pain sensitivity measures were, sex (female), poorer mental health and smoking.ConclusionsThese data provide the most comprehensive and robust sex specific reference values for pressure pain threshold specific to four body sites and cold pain threshold at the dorsal wrist for young adults aged 21–24 years. Establishing normative values in this young age group is important given that the transition from adolescence to adulthood is a critical temporal period during which trajectories for persistent pain can be established.ImplicationsThese data will provide an important research resource to enable more accurate profiling and interpretation of pain sensitivity in clinical pain disorders in young adults. The robust and comprehensive data can assist interpretation of future clinical pain studies and provide further insight into the complex associations of pain sensitivity that can be used in future research.

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