Reliability of pain threshold measurement in young adults

Abstract

The objective was to examine reliability of pressure and thermal (cold) pain threshold assessment in persons less than 25 years of age, using intra–class correlation (ICC) and coefficients of repeatability and variability. We measured thresholds to pain from pressure algometry and ice placed at the hand and head in 10 healthy volunteers aged 18–25. Intra–rater reliability was examined with ICC. Coefficients of repeatability (CR) and variability (CV) were estimated. Reliability of repeat assessments was high as assessed by ICC, although coefficients of repeatability and variation indicated considerable inter–individual variation in repeat measurements. Pressure algometry and strategically placed ice appear to be reliable techniques for assessing pain processing in young adults. Reliability studies employing ICC may benefit from complementary estimation of CR and CV.

Immediate effect of electric point stimulation (TENS) in treating latent upper trapezius trigger points: A double blind randomised placebo-controlled trial

“…The force recorded was the amount of pressure that caused the sensation of pressure to change to that of pain (PPT). Pressure pain threshold as determined by a PPA has been shown to be reliable and valid (Nussbaum and Downes, 1998;Antonaci et al, 1998;Reeves et al, 1986;Delaney and McKee, 1993;Cathcart and Pritchard, 2006;Pontinen, 1998;Takala, 1990). The participant was asked to indicate when the sensation of pressure changed to that of pain.…”

Pressure thresholds of the human foot: measurement reliability and effects of stimulus characteristics

“…Intra-class correlation (ICC) (Shrout and Fleiss 1979) is a common measure of reliability (Persson et al 2004, Cathcart and Pritchard 2006, Coluci et al 2009). ICC type (2, 1) calculated from the two trials was used to check the measurement reliabilities of pressure thresholds (PDT and PPT) at each test point.…”

Lower Mechanical Pressure Pain Thresholds in Female Adolescents With Patellofemoral Pain Syndrome

“…5 In adults with knee osteoarthritis, reliability was found to be good, with intraclass correlation coefficients between 0.83 and 0.86. 35 In addition to PPT, the following clinical measures were used: (1) the Knee injury and Osteoarthritis Outcome Score (KOOS), 25 (2) worst pain intensity last week and pain at rest, as measured on a 10-cm visual analog scale, (3) symptom duration (months), (4) most painful knee (right/left), and (5) unilateral or bilateral pain (yes/no).…”