Reliability of four experimental mechanical pain tests in children

Abstract

PurposeIn order to study pain in children, it is necessary to determine whether pain measurement tools used in adults are reliable measurements in children. The aim of this study was to explore the intrasession reliability of pressure pain thresholds (PPT) in healthy children. Furthermore, the aim was also to study the intersession reliability of the following four tests: (1) Total Tenderness Score; (2) PPT; (3) Visual Analog Scale score at suprapressure pain threshold; and (4) area under the curve (stimulus–response functions for pressure versus pain).Participants and methodsTwenty-five healthy school children, 8–14 years of age, participated. Test 2, PPT, was repeated three times at 2 minute intervals on the same day to estimate PPT intrasession reliability using Cronbach’s alpha. Tests 1–4 were repeated after median 21 (interquartile range 10.5–22) days, and Pearson’s correlation coefficient was used to describe the intersession reliability.ResultsThe PPT test was precise and reliable (Cronbach’s alpha ≥ 0.92). All tests showed a good to excellent correlation between days (intersessions r = 0.66–0.81). There were no indications of significant systematic differences found in any of the four tests between days.ConclusionAll tests seemed to be reliable measurements in pain evaluation in healthy children aged 8–14 years. Given the small sample size, this conclusion needs to be confirmed in future studies.

Platelet‐Rich Plasma Vs Autologous Blood Vs Corticosteroid Injections in the Treatment of Lateral Epicondylitis: A Systematic Review, Pairwise and Network Meta‐Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials

“…MNS assesses pain intensity by level of activity and its scores range from 0 (no pain with exercise) to 4 (severe pain with normal activities) . PPT is measured using algometry and a higher threshold value indicates better pain relief . Strength was evaluated by MGS, which is a quantitative measure specific for tennis elbow and is obtained with the use of a hand‐held dynamometer .…”

Test-retest repeatability of strength capacity, aerobic power and pericranial tenderness of neck and shoulder muscles in children - relevant for tension-type headache

“…Earlier studies by Bendtsen et al validated use of the Total Tenderness Scoring system (TTS) to examine pericranial muscle tenderness 17,18. The first to examine the repeatability of the TTS in children was the study by Soee et al, and it found the correlation coefficient between the two test days was acceptable ( r = 0.81) 19. Confirmation of the repeatability of these measurements in both healthy and children ill with TTH is warranted.…”

Relationship between School Backpacks and Musculoskeletal Pain in Children 8 to 10 Years of Age: An Observational, Cross-Sectional and Analytical Study

“…The pressure pain threshold was assessed using an analogue algometer with a calibration certificate (Wagner Instruments FDX25 ForceGage, 25x0.02 Lbt). This method has strong reliability (Cronbach's alpha ≥ 0.92) [26] and validity (convergent validity of pain thresholds across different body points was found to be high for all combinations assessed (Cronbach's alpha values > 0.80)) [27]. The algometer consisted of a small cylindrical rubber (1 cm 2 ) attached to a manometer.…”

“…M.C. palpated the origin and insertion of the muscle in way to localize the middle of the belly's muscle [26]: for the middle trapezius, the participant was asked to hug himself to slightly stretch the muscle, and the algometer was applied in a posteroanterior direction. To assess the upper trapezius, the algometer was placed in the angle of the neck with the child's arms resting on the armrest of the chair and was applied against the index and middle fingers of the evaluator, who had clamped the muscle.…”