title: Evaluation of pain threshold using a simple pressure algometer.
abstract: Pain threshold was measured using a simple pressure algometer in 190 subjects. The measurement had a highly acceptable intra-observer error. Significantly lower pain thresholds were observed in all of the five areas of the body studied in females. The most sensitive area was the forehead. There was a higher pain threshold in the dominant hand. Anxiety and fear of pain significantly reduced the threshold.
authors.affiliation: Department of Rheumatology, McMaster University Health Sciences Centre, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada.
authors.forename: H M
authors.initials: HM
authors.lastname: Buchanan
authors.forename: J A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Midgley
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010146:Pain / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D010147:Pain Measurement / Q000295:instrumentation*; D011312:Pressure; D012684:Sensory Thresholds; D012737:Sex Factors; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000150:complications