A simple and objective marker for stress.
OBJECTIVE
To examine the association between pressure pain sensitivity (PPS) at sternum and various well established physiological stress measures among opera singers during a performance as a measure for transitional stress, and resting values in out-clinic patients as a measure for persistent stress.


METHODS
Changes in PPS on the index finger and sternum, middle blood pressure (MAP), heart rate (HR), pressure-rate-product (PRP) and salivary cortisol (SCO) were recorded in 26 opera solo singers during a performance. Resting PPS, HR, MAP, PRP and presence of a noxious withdrawal reflex (NWR) were recorded in 181 out-clinic patients.


RESULTS
During opera performance, the PPS on sternum changed concomitantly with MAP (correlation coefficient (r) r=0.42, p<0.005), HR (r=0.55, p<0.001), PRP (r=0.54, p<0.001) and SCO (r=0.26, p=0.066). During rest, a significant correlation was found between PPS on sternum and HR, PRP and presence of noxious withdrawal reflex (all p<0.01).


CONCLUSIONS
The PPS measurement at sternum was associated with well established physiological stress measures and may represent a simple, objective and reliable measure of physiological stress used by both non-professional and professionals.
Ballegaard
Soeren
S
Ull Care, Hellerup, Denmark. sba@ullcare.com
Karpatschof
Benny
B
Trojaborg
Werner
W
Hansen
Aase Marie
AM
Magnusson
Gisli
G
Petersen
Pernille Bjoern
PB
D000328:Adult; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000032:analysis*; D015444:Exercise; D005260:Female; D006262:Health; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009146:Music; D010146:Pain / Q000473:pathology; D012018:Reflex; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012146:Rest; D013312:Stress, Physiological
D015415:Biomarkers