scholarly journals The impact of gender of the examiner on orofacial pain perception and pain reporting among healthy volunteers

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
A. Lövgren ◽  
B. Häggman-Henrikson ◽  
A. Fjellman-Wiklund ◽  
A. Begic ◽  
H. Landgren ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Pain Intensity ◽  
Pain Perception ◽  
Rating Scale ◽  
Orofacial Pain ◽  
Multivariable Analysis ◽  
Pressure Pain Threshold ◽  
Pain Tolerance ◽  
Pressure Pain ◽  
Pain Reporting ◽  
The Impact

Abstract Objectives Pain on palpation of jaw muscles is a commonly used diagnostic criterion when examining patients with orofacial pain. It is not known, however, if pain reports are affected by the gender of the examiner. Our aim was to investigate if pressure pain threshold (PPT), pressure pain tolerance (PTol), and pain intensity assessed over the masseter muscles in healthy individuals are affected by the gender of the examiner. Materials and methods Healthy, pain-free individuals were recruited on a voluntary basis. PPT and PTol were assessed using pressure algometry. At the PTol level, participants also rated pain intensity on a 0–10 numeric rating scale. Assessments of PPT and PTol were conducted with six repeated measurements performed twice, separately by one female and one male examiner, on each participant. Results In total, 84 participants (43 women; median age 24, IQR 6) were included. With a female examiner, women reported higher pain intensity than men (Mann Whitney U, p = 0.005). In the multivariable analysis, significantly higher PTol was predicted by male examiner. Also, a higher ratio between PTol and reported pain intensity was predicted by male examiner. Conclusions The gender of the examiner influences pain reporting and perception in an experimental setting. This effect on pain perception related to gender of the examiner is probably related to normative gender behaviors rather than to biological alterations within the examined individual. Clinical relevance In clinical and experimental settings, gender of the examiner may affect not only pain perception but also pain reporting, with potential implications for diagnostics in patients with pain.

scholarly journals Early Changes in Pain Acceptance Predict Pain Outcomes in Interdisciplinary Treatment for Chronic Pain

2019 ◽  
Vol 8 (9) ◽  
pp. 1373 ◽  
Author(s):  
Probst ◽  
Jank ◽  
Dreyer ◽  
Seel ◽  
Wagner ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Chronic Pain ◽  
Pain Intensity ◽  
Pain Perception ◽  
Rating Scale ◽  
Post Treatment ◽  
Interdisciplinary Treatment ◽  
Binary Logistic Regression Analysis ◽  
Pain Acceptance ◽  
Pain Outcomes ◽  
The Impact

Studies have shown that pain acceptance is associated with a better pain outcome. The current study explored whether changes in pain acceptance in the very early treatment phase of an interdisciplinary cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT)-based treatment program for chronic pain predict pain outcomes. A total of 69 patients with chronic, non-malignant pain (at least 6 months) were treated in a day-clinic for four-weeks. Pain acceptance was measured with the Chronic Pain Acceptance Questionnaire (CPAQ), pain outcomes included pain intensity (Numeric Rating Scale, NRS) as well as affective and sensory pain perception (Pain Perception Scale, SES-A and SES-S). Regression analyses controlling for the pre-treatment values of the pain outcomes, age, and gender were performed. Early changes in pain acceptance predicted pain intensity at post-treatment measured with the NRS (B = −0.04 (SE = 0.02); T = −2.28; p = 0.026), affective pain perception at post-treatment assessed with the SES-A (B = −0.26 (SE = 0.10); T = −2.79; p = 0.007), and sensory pain perception at post-treatment measured with the SES-S (B = -0.19 (SE = 0.08); T = -2.44; p = 0.017) . Yet, a binary logistic regression analysis revealed that early changes in pain acceptance did not predict clinically relevant pre-post changes in pain intensity (at least 2 points on the NRS). Early changes in pain acceptance were associated with pain outcomes, however, the impact was beneath the threshold defined as clinically relevant.

scholarly journals Can Injuries Have a Lasting Effect on the Perception of Pain in Young, Healthy Women and Men?

2020 ◽  
pp. 194173812095316
Author(s):  
Agnieszka Maciejewska-Skrendo ◽  
Maciej Pawlak ◽  
Agata Leońska-Duniec ◽  
Alina Jurewicz ◽  
Mariusz Kaczmarczyk ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Physical Activity ◽  
Pain Threshold ◽  
Pain Perception ◽  
Emotional Experience ◽  
Pressure Pain Threshold ◽  
Pain Tolerance ◽  
Female Group ◽  
Pressure Pain ◽  
Left Hand ◽  
Healthy Women

Background: Pain is a characteristic, unpleasant sensory and emotional experience associated with actual or potential tissue damage. Pain is a subjective sensation, modulated by many factors such as age, sex, emotional state, national origin, or physical activity. Moreover, it is closely associated with intense physical activity, injuries, and traumas, which can significantly modulate pain tolerance. Hypothesis: We postulate that there are correlations between past injuries, physical activity, and intensity of pain perception (pain threshold and pain tolerance) in a population of healthy men and women. Study Design: Retrospective cohort study. Level of Evidence: Level 4. Methods: A total of 302 participants aged 18 to 32 years were included. The participants were divided into 2 groups (active and inactive individuals), in accordance with the scope of physical activity they had indicated. The test of pressure pain threshold and pressure pain tolerance was performed using an algometer. Results: Active women achieved significantly higher pain threshold and pain tolerance values in all measurements on the upper limb (except for the pain threshold on the left hand) compared with inactive women. In mediation analysis, the effect of injury remained significant only for the pressure pain tolerance in the dominant arm and the left hand in the female group. In the case of men, there were no significant differences in all measurements in view of the threshold and tolerance for pain between the groups of active and inactive and between men with injuries and without injuries. Conclusion: Intense, regular physical activity is a factor modulating the perception of pain. This was demonstrated as lowered sensitivity to pain stimuli in a population of healthy women. Clinical Relevance: Injuries should be treated as an important factor modulating the perception of pain. We recommend detailed monitoring of injuries during treatment and control of pain sensation.

scholarly journals Lifestyle and Pain in Women With Knee Osteoarthritis

2017 ◽  
Vol 13 (6) ◽  
pp. 606-610
Author(s):  
Natalia Cristina de Oliveira ◽  
Fabio Marcon Alfieri ◽  
Alessandra Rodrigues Souto Lima ◽  
Leslie Andrews Portes
Keyword(s):  
Pain Perception ◽  
Elderly Women ◽  
Vastus Lateralis ◽  
Pressure Pain Threshold ◽  
The Elderly ◽  
Pain Tolerance ◽  
Pressure Pain ◽  
Knee Oa ◽  
Perceived Pain ◽  
Pathophysiological Aspect

Osteoarthritis (OA) is the main cause of pain and disability in the elderly. The disease leads to chronic musculoskeletal pain, characterized by an abnormal excitability of pain conduction pathways, and lifestyle may interfere in this pathophysiological aspect. Thus, the aim of this study was to compare perceived pain, pressure pain threshold, and lifestyle of adult and elderly women with and without knee OA. A total of 143 women were recruited and divided into 2 groups: OA ( n = 68) and control ( n = 75). Volunteers were evaluated for pressure pain tolerance (algometry in vastus medialis and vastus lateralis muscles), perceived pain (visual analogue scale) and lifestyle (FANTASTIC questionnaire). Patients with OA of the present study presented higher weight ( P = .001) and body mass index ( P < .001) than controls. Results also revealed less tolerance to pressure pain ( P < .001) and higher pain perception ( P < .001) in patients with OA. OA group scored significantly lower in lifestyle questionnaire than controls ( P = .03). Patients with OA in the present study who presented lifestyle scores below median presented significantly higher values of pain perception than the ones above it ( P = .03). In conclusion, patients with OA present more sensitivity to pain, more perceived pain, and worse lifestyle than healthy individuals.

scholarly journals Unpredictable pain timings lead to greater pain when people are highly intolerant of uncertainty

2017 ◽  
Vol 17 (1) ◽  
pp. 367-372 ◽  
Author(s):  
Clémence Bélanger ◽  
Bernard Blais Morin ◽  
Andréanne Brousseau ◽  
Nicolas Gagné ◽  
Anne Tremblay ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Pain Intensity ◽  
Pain Perception ◽  
Rating Scale ◽  
Numerical Rating Scale ◽  
Pain Catastrophizing ◽  
Intolerance Of Uncertainty ◽  
Time Frame ◽  
Added Value ◽  
Subjective Pain ◽  
The Impact

AbstractBackground and purposeMany psychological factors are known to influence pain perception. Among them, intolerance of uncertainty (IU) may play a key modulating role in situations where uncertainty prevails, especially uncertainty regarding the timing of painful events. The objective of this study was to explore the impact of individual differences in IUon pain perception during predictable and unpredictable stimulation timings. We hypothesized that people with high IU, as opposed to those with low IU, would perceive more pain when the timing of painful stimulations cannot be predicted, as compared to when they can.MethodsTwenty (20) healthy adults, aged between 18 and 35 years old, were recruited. Painful sensations were provoked using transcutaneous electrical stimulations of the right sural nerve. By measuring IU (Intolerance of Uncertainty Scale) and subjective pain (verbal numerical rating scale), it was possible to test the relationship between IU and pain perception, by simulating predictable and unpredictable painful experiences. This was done through cued shock interval (CSI) blocks, with either variable timing or fixed timings (long or short time frame). Self-administered questionnaires were also used to measure pain hypervigilance, pain catastrophizing, state anxiety, and trait anxiety.ResultsPearson correlations confirmed the presence of an association (r = 0.63) between IU and the change in pain intensity provoked by unpredictable stimulation timings. Importantly, this association was significant only for stimulations provided at long CSIs, indicating that higher IU scores predicted higher pain intensity scores when stimulation timings became unpredictable, and when the cued delay was long. No association was found between pain scores and other psychological variables.ConclusionsOur results show that IU moderately correlates to the change in pain intensity provoked by unpredictable stimulation timings. High IU scores were associated with a worsening of the subjective pain experience, especially during long delays in an unpredictable situation. These observations suggest that IU could be considered as a psychological variable that is able to influence pain perception in certain situations.ImplicationsAssessing and addressing IU could be an added value in pain-related therapy, especially in chronic pain.

scholarly journals Percutaneous Fascia Release for Treating Chronic Recurrent Gluteal Myofascial Pain—A Pilot Study of a New Technique

2015 ◽  
Vol 4 ◽  
pp. RPO.S30483 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hsin-Shui Chen ◽  
Ming-Ta Lin ◽  
Chang-Zern Hong ◽  
Yueh-Ling Hsieh ◽  
Li-Wei Chou
Keyword(s):  
Pilot Study ◽  
Pain Intensity ◽  
Pain Threshold ◽  
Myofascial Pain ◽  
Pressure Pain Threshold ◽  
Small Sample ◽  
Myofascial Trigger Points ◽  
Pressure Pain ◽  
Hip Abduction ◽  
Abduction Strength

Objective To investigate the therapeutic effectiveness of percutaneous fascia release to treat chronic recurrent gluteal myofascial pain related to recurrent tendonitis or bursitis at the attachment sites. Methods Five patients (three males, two females; aged 48.6 ± 8.9 years) with myofascial trigger points in the gluteus medius muscle were treated. Outcome measures, including pain intensity, pressure pain threshold, and the relative strength of hip abduction, were assessed before, immediately after, and six months after the treatment. The data measured before and after treatment (different times) on visual analog scale, pressure pain threshold, and relative hip abduction strength were analyzed by Wilcoxon signed-rank test and paired t-test, respectively, for the comparisons between time points. Results Reduction in pain intensity and increase in the pressure pain threshold and the relative hip abduction strength were found in all five patients after treatment when compared with those of before treatment ( P < 0.05). Moreover, all of these improvements existed for at least six months ( P > 0.05). Conclusions Percutaneous fascia release of gluteal muscle insertion sites can be used to treat chronic gluteal pain related to subtrochanteric bursitis to avoid recurrence, if other treatment cannot control the recurrence, although this was demonstrated only on a small sample size without control and blind assessment in the pilot study.

scholarly journals The Confounding Effect of Assessor Ethnicity on Subjective Pain Reporting in Women

2017 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
pp. 1-11
Author(s):  
Jacob Miguel Vigil ◽  
Patrick Coulombe ◽  
Lauren Nikki Rowell ◽  
Chance Strenth ◽  
Eric Kruger ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Pain Intensity ◽  
Severe Pain ◽  
Pain Sensitivity ◽  
Cold Pressor ◽  
Pain Tolerance ◽  
Random Effects Models ◽  
Subjective Pain ◽  
Lower Pain ◽  
Pain Reporting ◽  
Hispanic White

The current study examines how subjective pain reporting is influenced by the concordant and discordant nature of the ethnic identities of pain expressers (participants) and pain assessors (experimenters). Three discomfort conditions that varied in stimuli intensity (Study 1: mild pain; Study 2: severe pain), and distraction components (Study 3) were used to assess whether pain intensity and tolerance reporting differ with the ethnic identification of the participant and the experimenter. Specifically, 87 Hispanic and 74 Non-Hispanic White (NHW) women (18–51 yrs., Mage = 20.0, SD = 4.3) underwent a cold pressor pain task (CPT) after engaging in minimal procedural interactions with one of the 22 research experimenters (47% Hispanic, 42% females). The procedural interactions with the experimenters included only consenting and instructions, with no interaction between experimenter and participant during the actual CPT. Random-effects models showed that between the 0% and 18% of the variance in pain sensitivity (intensity and tolerance scores) was attributable to characteristics of the experimenters. Controlling for self-esteem, baseline pain levels, and the gender of the experimenter, Hispanic subjects showed higher pain sensitivity (as marked by lower pain tolerance and higher pain intensity scores) following interactions with an NHW rather than a Hispanic experimenter in response to the most severe pain intensity stimuli. These results question the validity of common findings of ethnic differences in pain sensitivity from studies that have not accounted for the ethnic identity of the pain assessor (and the general communicative nature of pain reporting).

scholarly journals The Distinction of Hot Herbal Compress, Hot Compress, and Topical Diclofenac as Myofascial Pain Syndrome Treatment

2018 ◽  
Vol 23 ◽  
pp. 215658721775345 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jurairat Boonruab ◽  
Netraya Nimpitakpong ◽  
Watchara Damjuti
Keyword(s):  
Quality Of Life ◽  
Pain Intensity ◽  
Range Of Motion ◽  
Pain Threshold ◽  
Pressure Pain Threshold ◽  
Pressure Pain ◽  
Cervical Range Of Motion ◽  
Topical Diclofenac ◽  
Hot Compress

This randomized controlled trial aimed to investigate the distinctness after treatment among hot herbal compress, hot compress, and topical diclofenac. The registrants were equally divided into groups and received the different treatments including hot herbal compress, hot compress, and topical diclofenac group, which served as the control group. After treatment courses, Visual Analog Scale and 36-Item Short Form Health survey were, respectively, used to establish the level of pain intensity and quality of life. In addition, cervical range of motion and pressure pain threshold were also examined to identify the motional effects. All treatments showed significantly decreased level of pain intensity and increased cervical range of motion, while the intervention groups exhibited extraordinary capability compared with the topical diclofenac group in pressure pain threshold and quality of life. In summary, hot herbal compress holds promise to be an efficacious treatment parallel to hot compress and topical diclofenac.

scholarly journals Myalgia in 30 Patients with Suspected Myopathy

2020 ◽  
Vol 17 (7) ◽  
pp. 2502
Author(s):  
Diana Lehmann Urban ◽  
Elizabeth Lehmann ◽  
Leila Motlagh Scholle ◽  
Torsten Kraya
Keyword(s):  
Pain Intensity ◽  
Polymyalgia Rheumatica ◽  
Pain Sensitivity ◽  
Pain Threshold ◽  
Neuromuscular Disorders ◽  
Pressure Pain Threshold ◽  
Neuromuscular Disorder ◽  
Weak Correlation ◽  
Pressure Pain ◽  
Significant Difference

Background: In patients with neuromuscular disorder, only little data of myalgia frequency and characterization exists. To date, only a weak correlation between pain intensity and pressure pain threshold has been found, and it remains enigmatic whether high pain intensity levels are equivalent to high pain sensitivity levels in neuromuscular disorders. Methods: 30 sequential patients with suspected neuromuscular disorder and myalgia were analyzed with regard to myalgia characteristics and clinical findings, including symptoms of depression and anxiety and pain- threshold. Results: A neuromuscular disorder was diagnosed in 14/30 patients. Muscular pain fasciculation syndrome (MPFS) without evidence for myopathy or myositis was diagnosed in 10/30 patients and 6/30 patients were diagnosed with pure myalgia without evidence for a neuromuscular disorder (e.g., myopathy, myositis, MPFS, polymyalgia rheumatica). Highest median pain scores were found in patients with pure myalgia and polymyalgia rheumatica. Pressure pain threshold measurement showed a significant difference between patients and controls in the biceps brachii muscle. Conclusion: Only a weak correlation between pain intensity and pressure pain threshold has been suggested, which is concordant with our results. The hypothesis that high pain intensity levels are equivalent to high pain sensitivity levels was not demonstrated.

scholarly journals Effects of MRgFUS Treatment on Musculoskeletal Pain: Comparison between Bone Metastasis and Chronic Knee/Lumbar Osteoarthritis

2019 ◽  
Vol 2019 ◽  
pp. 1-7 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hirofumi Namba ◽  
Motohiro Kawasaki ◽  
Masashi Izumi ◽  
Takahiro Ushida ◽  
Ryuichi Takemasa ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Bone Metastasis ◽  
Focused Ultrasound ◽  
Rating Scale ◽  
Facet Joint ◽  
Pressure Pain Threshold ◽  
Joint Diseases ◽  
Pressure Pain ◽  
Time Points ◽  
Local Bone ◽  
Local Tenderness

Local bone denervation by magnetic resonance-guided focused ultrasound (MRgFUS) is a promising tool for alleviation of pain in patients with painful bone metastasis (BM). Considering the underlying mechanism of pain alleviation, MRgFUS might be effective for various bone and joint diseases associated with local tenderness. This study was conducted to clarify the therapeutic effect of focused ultrasound in patients with various painful bone and joint diseases that are associated with local tenderness. Ten patients with BM, 11 patients with lumbar facet joint osteoarthritis (L-OA), and 19 patients with knee osteoarthritis (K-OA) were included. MRgFUS treatment was applied to the bone surface with real-time temperature monitoring at the target sites. Pain intensity was assessed using a 100 mm numerical rating scale (NRS) at various time points. Pressure pain threshold (PPT) was evaluated on the sonication area and control sites. Compared to baseline, the pain NRS scores significantly decreased in all groups 1 month after treatment, and PPT at the treated sites significantly increased in all groups 3 months after treatment. The percentage of patients who showed a ≥ 50% decrease in pain NRS scores at 1 month after treatment was 80% in BM, 64% in L-OA, and 78% in K-OA groups. PPTs were significantly higher after treatment at all evaluation time points. This study indicated that MRgFUS is effective in reducing pressure pain at the site of most severe tenderness in patients with painful bone and joint diseases. Treatment response was comparable between patients with BM, L-OA, and K-OA.

scholarly journals Percutaneous Soft Tissue Release for Treating Chronic Recurrent Myofascial Pain Associated with Lateral Epicondylitis: 6 Case Studies

2012 ◽  
Vol 2012 ◽  
pp. 1-7 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ming-Ta Lin ◽  
Li-Wei Chou ◽  
Hsin-Shui Chen ◽  
Mu-Jung Kao
Keyword(s):  
Soft Tissue ◽  
Pain Intensity ◽  
Pain Threshold ◽  
Myofascial Pain ◽  
Pressure Pain Threshold ◽  
Lateral Epicondylitis ◽  
Soft Tissue Release ◽  
Recurrent Pain ◽  
Myofascial Trigger Points ◽  
Pressure Pain

Objective. The purpose of this pilot study is to investigate the effectiveness of the percutaneous soft tissue release for the treatment of recurrent myofascial pain in the forearm due to recurrent lateral epicondylitis.Methods. Six patients with chronic recurrent pain in the forearm with myofascial trigger points (MTrPs) due to chronic lateral epicondylitis were treated with percutaneous soft tissue release of Lin’s technique. Pain intensity (measured with a numerical pain rating scale), pressure pain threshold (measured with a pressure algometer), and grasping strength (measured with a hand dynamometer) were assessed before, immediately after, and 3 months and 12 months after the treatment.Results. For every individual case, the pain intensity was significantly reduced(P<0.01)and the pressure pain threshold and the grasping strength were significantly increased(P<0.01)immediately after the treatment. This significant effectiveness lasts for at least one year.Conclusions. It is suggested that percutaneous soft tissue release can be used for treating chronic recurrent lateral epicondylitis to avoid recurrence, if other treatment, such as oral anti-inflammatory medicine, physical therapy, or local steroid injection, cannot control the recurrent pain.

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