dc.contributor.author | Waller, Robert | |
dc.contributor.author | Smith, Anne Julia | |
dc.contributor.author | O'Sullivan, Peter Bruce | |
dc.contributor.author | Slater, Helen | |
dc.contributor.author | Sterling, Michele | |
dc.contributor.author | McVeigh, Joanne Alexandra | |
dc.contributor.author | Straker, Leon Melville | |
dc.date.accessioned | 2018-07-20T03:47:31Z | |
dc.date.available | 2018-07-20T03:47:31Z | |
dc.date.issued | 2016 | |
dc.identifier.issn | 1877-8860 | |
dc.identifier.doi | 10.1016/j.sjpain.2016.08.003 | |
dc.identifier.uri | http://hdl.handle.net/10072/100339 | |
dc.description.abstract | Background and aims: Currently there is a lack of large population studies that have investigated pain
sensitivity distributions in healthy pain free people. The aims of this study were: (1) to provide sexspecific
reference values of pressure and cold pain thresholds in young pain-free adults; (2) to examine
the association of potential correlates of pain sensitivity with pain threshold values.
Methods: This study investigated sex specific pressure and cold pain threshold estimates for young pain
free adults aged 21–24 years. A cross-sectional design was utilised using participants (n = 617) from the
Western Australian Pregnancy Cohort (Raine) Study at the 22-year follow-up. The association of site,
sex, height, weight, smoking, health related quality of life, psychological measures and activity with pain
threshold values was examined. Pressure pain threshold (lumbar spine, tibialis anterior, neck and dorsal
wrist) and cold pain threshold (dorsal wrist) were assessed using standardised quantitative sensory
testing protocols.
Results: Reference values for pressure pain threshold (four body sites) stratified by sex and site, and cold
pain threshold (dorsal wrist) stratified by sex are provided. Statistically significant, independent correlates
of increased pressure pain sensitivity measures were site (neck, dorsal wrist), sex (female), higher
waist-hip ratio and poorer mental health. Statistically significant, independent correlates of increased
cold pain sensitivity measures were, sex (female), poorer mental health and smoking.
Conclusions: These data provide the most comprehensive and robust sex specific reference values for
pressure pain threshold specific to four body sites and cold pain threshold at the dorsal wrist for young
adults aged 21–24 years. Establishing normative values in this young age group is important given that
the transition from adolescence to adulthood is a critical temporal period during which trajectories for
persistent pain can be established.
Implications: These data will provide an important research resource to enable more accurate profiling
and interpretation of pain sensitivity in clinical pain disorders in young adults. The robust and comprehensive
data can assist interpretation of future clinical pain studies and provide further insight into the
complex associations of pain sensitivity that can be used in future research. | |
dc.description.peerreviewed | Yes | |
dc.language | English | |
dc.language.iso | eng | |
dc.publisher | Elsevier | |
dc.relation.ispartofpagefrom | 114 | |
dc.relation.ispartofpageto | 122 | |
dc.relation.ispartofissue | 1 | |
dc.relation.ispartofjournal | Scandinavian Journal of Pain | |
dc.relation.ispartofvolume | 13 | |
dc.subject.fieldofresearch | Clinical sciences | |
dc.subject.fieldofresearch | Clinical sciences not elsewhere classified | |
dc.subject.fieldofresearchcode | 3202 | |
dc.subject.fieldofresearchcode | 320299 | |
dc.title | Pressure and cold pain threshold reference values in a large, young adult, pain-free population | |
dc.type | Journal article | |
dc.type.description | C1 - Articles | |
dc.type.code | C - Journal Articles | |
gro.hasfulltext | No Full Text | |
gro.griffith.author | Sterling, Michele | |