Assessing pain perception using the Painmatcher in patients with whiplash-associated disorders.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the Painmatcher, in terms of reliability, and to explore the relationship between pain magnitude matching and pain threshold assessments in patients with whiplash-associated disorders. Also, to investigate gender differences in pain thresholds and explore the correlation between pain-related cognitions and pain threshold.


METHODS
A test-retest study.


METHODS
Forty-seven patients with whiplash-associated disorders.


METHODS
A visual analogue scale and a Painmatcher (an instrument for comparing pain magnitude) were used to evaluate pain intensity. Pain threshold was assessed using the Painmatcher. Pain-related cognitions were assessed using the Painometer and the Tampa Scale for Kinesiophobia.


RESULTS
The Painmatcher demonstrated reliable pain magnitude matching scores, but the pain threshold assessment indicated a systematic disagreement. Women exhibited significantly lower pain thresholds than men (p < 0.01). There was a weak but significant correlation between the pain intensity according to the visual analogue scale and the Painmatcher (r = 0.46) (p < 0.01). There was a significant correlation between the emotional experience of pain and pain threshold (r = -0.33) (p < 0.001), but no significant correlation between fear of movement/(re)injury and pain threshold.


CONCLUSIONS
Measuring pain with the Painmatcher is a reliable method, but may include a possible bias in threshold assessments and seems to be associated with unpleasantness.
Käll
Lina Bunketorp
LB
Department of occupational therapy, audiology and physiotherapy, The Sahlgrenska Academy at Göteborg University, Sweden. lina.bunketorp@gu.se
Kowalski
Jan
J
Stener-Victorin
Elisabet
E
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D005239:Fear / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009068:Movement; D010146:Pain / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000523:psychology; D010147:Pain Measurement / Q000379:methods*; D017288:Pain Threshold / Q000502:physiology; D010698:Phobic Disorders / Q000209:etiology; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012737:Sex Factors; D014911:Whiplash Injuries / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000523:psychology