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Thermal pain tolerance and pain rating in normal subjects: Gender and age effects
Author(s) -
Lue Y.J.,
Wang H.H.,
Cheng K.I.,
Chen C.H.,
Lu Y.M.
Publication year - 2018
Publication title -
european journal of pain
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.305
H-Index - 109
eISSN - 1532-2149
pISSN - 1090-3801
DOI - 10.1002/ejp.1188
Subject(s) - pain tolerance , quantitative sensory testing , threshold of pain , medicine , physical therapy , psychology , anesthesia , sensory system , cognitive psychology
Background Thermal detection thresholds and thermal pain thresholds are important in quantitative sensory testing. Although they have been well studied for assessing somatosensory function, the investigation of thermal pain tolerance has been insufficient. The aim of this study was to explore the characteristics of thermal pain tolerance and pain ratings in healthy subjects. Methods Cold pain tolerance ( CPT ol) and heat pain tolerance ( HPT ol) were tested in 213 healthy adults aged 18–81 years recruited from the local community. The thermal detection and thermal pain thresholds were also tested to investigate the association with pain tolerance. The visual analogue scale ( VAS ) was used for assessing pain severity immediately after the thermal pain and tolerance tests. Results The normality of the CPT ol and HPT ol was acceptable. Most participants rated the pain induced by the CPT ol and HPT ol testing as moderate. HPT ol was lower in women than in men ( p = 0.001), but CPT ol did not differ between sexes. The pain ratings of CPT ol and HPT ol did not differ between sexes, but significant age effects were observed. The association of the tolerance temperature with pain ratings was weak, while those of pain ratings for CPT ol and HPT ol were strong ( r = 0.87). Conclusions Women were more sensitive to tolerance heat pain stimuli. Younger participants reported more pain for thermal pain and tolerance tests. Significance Thermal pain tolerance and pain rating for the thermal pain tolerance temperature depend on gender and age. Women are more sensitive to heat temperatures, young people rate more pain, and the pain ratings of heat and cold are strongly correlated.