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Relevance of Water Temperature, Apparatus, and Age to Children's Pain during the Cold Pressor Task
Author(s) -
Birnie Kathryn A.,
Parker Jennifer A.,
Chambers Christine T.
Publication year - 2016
Publication title -
pain practice
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.899
H-Index - 58
eISSN - 1533-2500
pISSN - 1530-7085
DOI - 10.1111/papr.12257
Subject(s) - cold pressor test , pain tolerance , medicine , threshold of pain , pain catastrophizing , physical therapy , anesthesia , chronic pain , heart rate , blood pressure
Background Effective use of experimental pain in research depends on a thorough understanding of factors influencing their use. Although studies using the cold pressor task ( CPT ) have critically advanced our knowledge of pain mechanisms, assessment, and management in adults and children, the impact of identified methodological variability in its use is not known (ie, water temperature and apparatus); furthermore, whether methodological variations differentially impact children across development. Methods Pain outcomes were examined in 113 healthy children from three age groups (8‐ to 9‐, 10‐ to 11‐, and 12‐ to 14‐year‐olds) who completed three CPT s at different water temperatures (5, 7, 10°C) in counterbalanced order. Children were randomly assigned to one of two apparatus (ice‐ vs. electric‐cooled) for all CPT s. Children's hand was warmed to its baseline temperature between CPT s. Results Colder water (2 to 3°C decreases) was associated with significantly higher pain intensity and unpleasantness, and lower pain tolerance and threshold. Older children (12 to 14 years) reported significantly worse pain intensity and unpleasantness as compared to 8‐ to 9‐year‐olds, likely due to longer pain tolerance. Pain outcomes in 10‐ to 11‐year‐olds fell between the other age groups, with significant differences for pain unpleasantness and pain tolerance (at 10°C). Higher pain‐related fear and pain unpleasantness occurred with the electric‐cooled apparatus. Girls had higher pain tolerance and threshold at all temperatures. Conclusions These results provide critically important information about water temperature, apparatus, and child age on CPT pain responding. It informs design of future CPT studies and directs consideration of methodological variability and child age when interpreting study findings.