Pressure pain measurement and analysis in healthy college students

Thirty healthy college students (16 males and 14 females) at a university were recruited as study subjects. A pressure algometer was used to measure the pressure pain threshold (PPT) and pressure pain tolerance (PTO) at the brachioradialis of the arm, the lower trapezius of the back and the vastus lateralis of the thigh. Analyzed gender and measurement position differences of PPT and PTO by repeated measures variance analysis methods. Ultimately, the normal reference value range of PPT and PTO were obtained. The results showed that the PPT and PTO were significantly different between the gender (P<0.001):the PPT and PTO were lower in females than in males; the PPT and PTO were significantly different between measurement position (0.001): the PPT and PTO were lower at the brachioradialis muscle and higher at the vastus lateralis muscle. Conclusion: The measurement of the PPT and PTO is influenced by factors such as gender and measurement position, performing pain measurement and pain assessment should focus on inter- and intra-individual differences in pain thresholds.