Measuring mechanical pain: the refinement and standardization of pressure pain threshold measurements.
Behav Res Methods
; 47(1): 216-27, 2015 Mar.
Article
en En
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-24570335
ABSTRACT
Pain thresholds are widely used in behavioral research, but unlike other pain modalities, a standardized assessment of pressure pain remains a challenge. In this research, we describe the application of an automatic pressure algometer with a linear increase in force. Ergonomically designed fixation devices were developed to increase the accuracy and to shorten the time of each measurement. Ten healthy volunteers were included in a pilot study to test the algometry method. Pressure pain thresholds (PPTs) were investigated over 2 experimental days in three nonconsecutive runs at 29 measurement sites. During the experiment, subjects reported their subjective sleepiness, level of state-anxiety, psychological status and the perceived pain intensity of each measurement. Pain intensity ratings indicate that instructions were followed. State-anxiety and subjective sleepiness levels were low throughout the experiment. The method has proven to be suitable for standardized PPT measurements across the body in an ergonomic, safe, and user-friendly fashion.
Texto completo:
1
Colección:
01-internacional
Banco de datos:
MEDLINE
Asunto principal:
Dolor
/
Presión
/
Umbral del Dolor
Tipo de estudio:
Diagnostic_studies
/
Etiology_studies
Límite:
Adult
/
Female
/
Humans
/
Male
Idioma:
En
Revista:
Behav Res Methods
Asunto de la revista:
CIENCIAS DO COMPORTAMENTO
Año:
2015
Tipo del documento:
Article