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PubMedDate not supplied

Effect of bilateral caudatal lesion on pain threshold in rats.

Pain threshold was determined in eleven adult male rats (Haffkine strain) on electrical stimulation of midpart of tail. Three responses, namely tail withdrawal, vocalization and vocalization afterdischarge were studied. Of these eleven animals, seven in experimental group were subjected to bilateral electrolytic lesion of mid-dorsal caudate nucleus while remaining four animals were sham operated. The increase in pain threshold after caudatal destruction for all the three responses suggests the possible modulatory role of mid-dorsal caudate nucleus in the mechanism of pain.

Animals↗
PubMed2004

Do ethnicity and gender have an impact on pain thresholds in minor dermatologic procedures? A study on thermal pain perception thresholds in Asian ethinic groups.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: The perception of pain is a personal experience influenced by many factors, including genetic, ethnic and cultural issues. Understanding these perceptions is especially important in dermatologic patients undergoing minor surgical operations and who often differ in their pain response to surgical treatments. Little is known about how these differences affect the perception of experimental pain. The purpose of this study was to determine experimental pain perception differences in three distinct East Asian ethnic populations. METHODS: Pain thresholds were examined with a psychophysical computerized quantitative thermal sensory testing device (TSA 2001) in healthy volunteers recruited from three different Asian ethnic groups. Using the methods of limits, experimental pain perception threshold was measured on the forehead and volar aspect of the forearm in 49 healthy subjects. The measurements were then repeated after skin barrier perturbation with adhesive tape stripping of the stratum corneum. All three ethnic groups were analyzed separately with respect to age, gender educational level and skin type. RESULTS: A total of 20 Chinese, 14 Malay and 15 Indian subjects completed the study. Thermal pain thresholds were similar in all three ethnic groups before and after tape strippings. No significant differences were noted between genders. CONCLUSIONS: Using quantitative sensory thermal testing, we demonstrated that no significant differences in pain occur between different races and genders.

Adult↗
PubMed2005

Influence of surface anesthesia on the pressure pain threshold measured with different-sized probes.

Transcutaneous pressure with pressure probes of arbitrary diameters have been commonly used for measuring the threshold and magnitude of muscle pain, yet this procedure lacks scientific validation. To examine the valid probe dimensions, we conducted physiological experiments using 34 human subjects. Pin-prick pain, pressure pain threshold (PPT) to pressure probes of various diameters, heat pain threshold, and electrical pain threshold of deep tissues were measured before and after application of surface lidocaine anesthesia to the skin surface over the brachioradial muscle in a double-blinded manner. The anesthesia neither affected PPT with larger probes (diameters: 1.6 and 15 mm) nor increased electric pain threshold of deep structures, whereas it diminished pain count in pin-prick test and PPT with a 1.0 mm diameter probe, suggesting that mechanical pain thresholds measured with 1.6 and 15 mm probes reflect the pain threshold of deep tissues, possibly muscle. Pain thresholds to heat did not change after application of the anesthesia. These results suggest that larger pressure probes can give a better estimation of muscular pain threshold.

Administration, Cutaneous↗
PubMed1992

Alterations in electrical pain thresholds by use of acupuncture-like transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation in pain-free subjects.

Acupuncture-like transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (ALTENS) was compared with a placebo treatment in altering acute electrical pain thresholds. Ten pain-free subjects underwent, on different days, an acclimatization session, an ALTENS treatment, and a placebo treatment in a cross-over design. Electrical sensation and pain thresholds were measured from the tip of the index finger bilaterally at 15-minute intervals twice before, once during, and three times after a 30-minute treatment session. The ALTENS treatment was given at 4 Hz at an intensity just below pain threshold delivered to acupuncture points in the hand and wrist. The placebo treatment was similarly delivered, except that the intensity of stimulation was just above sensation threshold. Neither the ALTENS treatment nor the placebo treatment produced a significant change in pain threshold. There was no correlation between initial pain threshold and change in pain threshold. Implications for the modulation of pain are discussed.

Adult↗
PubMed2003

The effects of treadmill type on heart rate and pain threshold velocity in individuals with lower-extremity musculoskeletal pain.

STUDY DESIGN: This study utilized a quasi-experimental design in which subjects served as their own controls. OBJECTIVE: To determine whether heart rate, pain threshold velocity, and pain perception varied in patients running on a soft-belt treadmill versus a standard hard-belt treadmill. BACKGROUND: According to promotional literature, the relatively new Orbiter soft-belt tread produces a greater increase in heart rate at a given velocity as well as a higher velocity tolerance while walking or running. The manufacturer also asserts that decreased forces transmitted through the lower extremity should decrease pain levels while exercising on the soft-belt treadmill. METHODS AND MEASURES: Twenty-seven subjects walked or ran on each of 2 treadmills at incrementally increasing velocities until they experienced either the onset of pain or an increase in pain from baseline levels. Locomotion continued for 2 minutes after that, during which time heart rate and pain level on a visual analog scale (VAS) were recorded. RESULTS: Two univariate paired t tests and a Wilcoxon's signed rank test revealed a greater heart rate and pain threshold velocity when using the soft-belt treadmill with no statistical difference in the pain reported between the 2 treadmills. CONCLUSION: Our study revealed a 10% higher heart rate and a 14.5% higher pain threshold velocity with the soft-belt treadmill compared to a hard-belt treadmill. These differences are considered clinically meaningful.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1986

Transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation produces variable changes in somatosensory evoked potentials, sensory perception and pain threshold: clinical implications for pain relief.

Transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation decreased early and late somatosensory evoked potential amplitudes and stimulus intensity ratings, and elevated sensory detection threshold, in normal subjects. Effects on pain threshold depended on pre-treatment threshold. These findings are relevant to treatment of clinical pain by transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation.

Adult↗
PubMed1992

Relations between experimentally induced tooth pain threshold changes, psychometrics and clinical pain relief following TENS. A retrospective study in patients with long-lasting pain.

The present study investigates the relationships between clinical pain relief, physiological and psychological parameters. Out of 50 patients with long-lasting musculoskeletal neck- and shoulder-pain treated with transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS), 21 were selected and classified as responders (n = 13) or non-responders (n = 8). Tooth pain thresholds (PT) were measured before and after an experimental TENS treatment and the relative change in PT following the stimulation was calculated. Three psychometric self-inventories were administered: Zung Depression Scale, Spielberger's Trait Anxiety Scale and the Multidimensional Health Locus of Control Scale. Responders (R) and non-responders (NR) differed significantly from each other in the PT measurements as well as on the psychometric scales. NR exhibited higher levels of anxiety and depression, a more pronounced powerful other orientation and no change or a decrease in PT following TENS compared to R. These findings indicate relationships and interactions between physiological and psychological factors in patients with long-lasting pain.

Adult↗
PubMed2001

Effects of topical diclofenac (DHEP plaster) on skin, subcutis and muscle pain thresholds in subjects without spontaneous pain.

The aim of this study was to determine whether topical application of diclofenac hydroxyethylpyrrolidine (DHEP) modifies somatic pain sensitivity in subjects without spontaneous pain. Twenty male subjects (aged 19-40 years), who had not reported any pain for at least 1 month, underwent measurement of pain thresholds to bilateral electrical stimulation in the quadriceps muscle and overlying subcutis and skin. Following the double-blind study design, one diclofenac adhesive plaster (13 x 10 cm; 180 mg DHEP) was then applied over one quadriceps while a matched placebo plaster was placed contralaterally. Each subject was given two other plasters (diclofenac and placebo) and instructed to substitute those over the quadriceps after 12 h and to wear them for a further 12 h. Thirty minutes after removal of the second plasters, thresholds. were remeasured in all subjects as on the previous day. Thresholds at the first evaluation were within normal range in nine subjects (group 1) and below normal in muscle (hyperalgesia) in the remaining 11 (group 2). No significant changes were observed in skin or subcutis thresholds after diclofenac or placebo treatment in either group. In contrast, muscle thresholds significantly increased after diclofenac compared with placebo treatment (group 1: p < 0.05; group 2: p < 0.007); the increase was significantly higher in group 2 than in group 1 (p < 0.002). Topical application of diclofenac had a selective hypoalgesic effect on muscles, which was more pronounced in the case of hyperalgesia. These results suggest that the preparation is particularly effective in the treatment of algogenic conditions of deep somatic tissues.

Administration, Topical↗
PubMed1996

[Silent cardiopathy and aging. Assessment of pain threshold and tolerance].

The increase in pain threshold is one of the most significant hypothesis regarding the origin of silent ischaemic cardiopathy. The relations between silent ischaemia and aging aren't clear, although age is considered a risk factor in this pathology, in relation to a supposed peripheral neuropathy. In our study we evaluated the trend of pain threshold and of pain tolerance in subjects affected by silent ischaemic cardiopathy; we especially considered the role of aging. We studied 15 subjects with silent ischaemic cardiopathy and 15 with symptomatic cardiopathy; we evaluated the pain threshold and tolerance in three points using short and low frequency transcutaneous electrical impulses. All subjects were male; the exclusion criterion was a high level of anxiety and depression. Pain threshold values were measured with the same method in 40 healthy subjects, 5 per each decade and ranged from 10 to 90 years. Our data show a significant difference in pain threshold and tolerance between subjects affected by silent and non silent cardiopathy (33.9 +/- 12.9 mA vs 25.0 +/- 12.6 mA: p = 0.001 in the comparison of thresholds, and 66.8 +/- 20.9 mA vs 45.0 +/- 21.8: p = 0.000 in the comparison of tolerances). Regarding the higher significance of our data, compared with other studies, we considered the importance of our particular stimulation method and of the uniformity of the studied group. We didn't note any correlation between pain threshold and age. These data suggest that the differences evident between subjects with silent and symptomatic cardiopathy are linked to a different modulation of central pain perception uncorrelated with age.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Hypnosis increases heat detection and heat pain thresholds in healthy volunteers.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Hypnosis has been reported to induce analgesia and to facilitate anesthesia. To date, hypnotic-induced analgesia has had little explanation and it has even been questioned. The current study was thus designed to investigate the effect of hypnotic suggestion on thermal-detection thresholds, heat pain, and heat-pain tolerance thresholds. METHODS: In 15 healthy volunteers, enrolled in a randomized cross-over study, thermal thresholds were investigated in 2 sequences of measurements, under waking and hypnotic states, using a thermal stimulator. RESULTS: Heat detection and heat-pain thresholds were increased under hypnosis (from 34.3 +/-.9 degrees C to 36.0 +/- 2.9 degrees C and 45.0 +/- 3.7 degrees C to 46.7 +/- 2.7 degrees C, respectively, P <.05), whereas heat-pain tolerance and cold-detection thresholds were not statistically changed. CONCLUSION: These results indicate that hypnosis may partly impair the detection of A delta and C fibers stimulation, potentially explaining its analgesic effect.

Adult↗
PubMed1998

Pain threshold is reduced in depression.

Pain and depression may share common neurochemical substrates, therefore the study of pain sensation in depression might be valuable in the investigation of the pathophysiology of depression itself. In order to investigate the sensation of pain in depression, we measured pain threshold and sensory threshold by means of a dental tester, comparing a group of depressed patients with healthy volunteers. The results showed the presence of a higher sensory threshold and pain threshold in patients than in controls. This may be related to a hyperfunction of the opiate system, which in turn might be primary or secondary to a decreased modulatory function of other neurotransmitters, in particular of serotonin, whose abnormalities in depressive states are well-documented.

Journal Article↗
PubMed2003

Increases in local pressure pain thresholds after muscle exertion in women with chronic shoulder pain.

OBJECTIVE: To examine the relation between muscular tenderness and local muscular fatigue. DESIGN: Before-after trial, measuring pressure pain thresholds and signs of local muscular fatigue by using surface electromyography before, after, 10 minutes after, and 20 minutes after intervention. SETTING: University rehabilitation department in Sweden. PARTICIPANTS: Nineteen female hospital cleaners with unilateral chronic shoulder pain for 1 year. No previous trauma, surgery, or signs of systemic or neurologic disease. INTERVENTION: Static abduction endurance test with submaximal unilateral activation of the trapezius and deltoid muscles. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Pressure pain thresholds and electromyographic fatigue parameters (root mean square [RMS]; mean power frequency [MPF]). RESULTS: Mean normalized pressure pain threshold values increased significantly (95% confidence interval [CI]) and lasted for 20 minutes: in the trapezius, threshold values increased to 115% to 120% (95% CI, 100%-140%; P=.04-.05); and in the deltoid, the threshold increased to 112% to 115% (95% CI, 100%-130%; P=.02-.05). Development of significant electromyographically defined fatigue was seen: in the trapezius, the RMS increased to 130% (95% CI, 119%-141%), and in the deltoid, the MPF decreased to 78% (95% CI, 74%-82%), but normalized within 15 seconds to 10 minutes. CONCLUSION: Lasting bilateral increases in pressure pain thresholds but transient local muscular fatigue were seen after a unilateral static endurance test. The sensitivity of the sensory nervous system may change during a static muscle contraction and sometimes contributes to a localized sensation of numbness.

Adult↗
PubMed2006

Pressure pain thresholds and tender point counts as predictors of new chronic widespread pain in somatising subjects.

BACKGROUND: Tender points are a general measure of distress both in the community and in clinic subjects. It has been suggested that multiple tender points should be regarded as the early stages of somatisation of distress. Similarly, recent evidence suggests that chronic widespread pain (CWP) is one manifestation of the somatisation of distress. OBJECTIVE: Given that a high tender point count and CWP are clinical hallmarks of the fibromyalgia syndrome, it was hypothesised that in somatising subjects, a high tender point count or a low pain threshold would predict the development of CWP in the future. METHODS: In this population-based prospective study, 245 adults aged 25-65 years, free of CWP, were identified on the basis of a detailed questionnaire on pain and a psychosocial questionnaire comprising the Somatic Symptom Checklist and the Illness Behaviour subscale of the Illness Attitude Scales. These subjects took part in a pain threshold examination with a Fischer pressure algometer. Tender point counts were computed by including all areas with a pain threshold<4 kg/cm2. Individuals were followed up at 15 months, at which time 231 (93% of subjects still living at their baseline address) provided data on pain status, using the same instruments. RESULTS: At follow-up, 26 (11%) subjects developed new CWP. Although subjects with a low baseline pain threshold were not at increased risk of developing symptoms, a high tender point count, adjusted for age, sex, baseline pain status and other confounding factors, predicted the development of new CWP. CONCLUSION: Subjects free of CWP are at an increased risk of its development if they have a high tender point count. However, a low-pressure pain threshold does not predict the onset of symptoms. Data from this population-based prospective study suggest that a low pain threshold in subjects with CWP is likely to be a secondary phenomenon as a result of pain or associated distress rather than the antecedent of symptoms.

Adult↗
PubMed1989

[Objective evaluation of the effect of suggestion analgesia on the pain threshold].

Objectivization of the pain threshold, mean pain and tolerance of painful stimuli in patients with vertebrogenic algic syndrome is so far not a common examination method within the framework of psychological examinations of hospitalized patients. Because of the availability of the examination technique, the ischaemic pain test was selected performed by means of an ordinary tonometer and a rubber dynamometer. In the paper the author publishes for the first time preliminary norms for our population evaluated by the re-test following suggestive analgesia during autogenic training, extended by reflections on possible objectivization of subjective experience--pain, and further trends of clinical research in this area are outlined.

Adult↗
PubMed2005

Experimental pain thresholds influenced by sex of experimenter.

Thresholds for pressure pain were tested in 64 adult human subjects (age: M=22.0 yr., SD=7.5). The subjects were young adults drawn from a student population. They were divided into two groups of men and two groups of women, with 16 participants in each group. A female experimenter tested one group of men and a male experimenter tested the other group. The women were tested in a similar way by an experimenter of the same sex for one group and the opposite sex for the other group. The two experimenters were dressed in a manner that emphasised their gender roles. The men tested by a female experimenter showed a higher average pain threshold than the men tested by a male experimenter, but there was no difference in the average pain thresholds of the two groups of women.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1980

Endorphin-mediated increases in pain threshold during pregnancy.

Maternal pain thresholds in rats were determined during various stages of pregnancy and parturition by measuring the intensity of electric shock that elicited reflexive jumping. There was a gradual rise in the pain threshold between 16 and 4 days prior to parturition and a more abrupt rise 1 to 2 days before that event. This increase was abolished by long-term administration of the narcotic antagonist naltrexone. The endorphin system is thus an important component of intrinsic mechanisms that modulate responsiveness to aversive stimuli. The data also demonstrate the activation during pregnancy of an endorphin system that is apparently quiescent in nonpregnant female rats treated the same way.

Animals↗
PubMed2003

Heat pain thresholds and cerebral event-related potentials following painful CO2 laser stimulation in chronic tension-type headache.

Current opinion concerning the pathophysiology of tension-type headache (TTH) and its related pericranial muscle tenderness proposes a primary role of central sensitization at the level of dorsalhorn/trigeminal nucleus as well as the supraspinal level. Investigation of these phenomena can be conducted using laser-evoked potentials (LEPs), which are objective and quantitative neurophysiological tools for the assessment of pain perception. In the present study we examined features of LEPs, as well as cutaneous heat-pain thresholds to laser stimulation, in relation to the tenderness of pericranial muscles in chronic TTH resulting from pericranial muscle disorder, during a pain-free phase. Twelve patients with TTH and 11 healthy controls were examined using the Total Tenderness Scoring (TTS) system. The stimulus was a laser pulse generated by a CO(2) laser. The dorsum of the hand and the cutaneous zones corresponding to pericranial muscles were stimulated. Subjective perception of stimulus intensity was assessed by a visual analogue scale. Two responses, the earlier named N2a and the last named P2, were considered; the absolute latency was measured at the highest peak of each response. The N2a-P2 components' peak-to-peak amplitude was detected. The heat pain threshold was similar in TTH patients and controls at the level of both the hand and pericranial skin. The TTS scores at almost all pericranial sites were higher in TTH patients than in normal controls. The amplitude of the N2a-P2 complex elicited by stimulation of the pericranial zone was greater in TTH patients than in controls; the amplitude increase was significantly associated with the TTS score. Our findings suggest that pericranial tenderness may be a primary phenomenon that precedes headache, and is mediated by a greater pain-specific hypervigilance at the cortical level.

Adult↗