• Journal of Oral Medicine and Pain
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• v.20 no.1
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• pp.97-103
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• 1995

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of experimenter gender on pain report as well as the sex differences in pain threshold and pain tolerance. Cold pressor test and pressure pain threshold (PPT) test were performed on forty dental students by both of a male and a female experimenter separately with 1 day interval. The obtained results were as follows : There were no differences in pain threshold and pain tolerance between males and females when they were examined by the same gender experimenter in the cold pressor test, but when they were examined by the opposite gender experimenter the pain threshold of males was significantly higher than females. When the pain threshold was measured by the same gender experimenter, using a algometer, there was no differences in PPT between males and females. However, when the same measurements were done by the opposite gender experimenter, the PPT of males was significantly higher than females at anterior temporalis and inferior masseter. For cold pressor test, females tended to report lower levels of pain threshold and pain tolerance to a male experimenter than a female, but the differences were not significant. Although both pain threshold and pain tolerance were increased when males were examined by a female experimenter in the cold pressor test, the statistical significance was found only in pain tolerance. When subjects were examined by the opposite gender experimenter in the PPT text, females reported significantly higher levels of pain at inferior masseter and males reported significantly lower levels of pain at anterior temporalis and inferior masseter.

• The Journal of Korean Physical Therapy
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• v.18 no.4
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• pp.41-50
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• 2006

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to determined that the efficacy and comfort of iontophoretic transdermal delivery of lidocaine by comparison of local anesthetic duration, sensory threshold, pain threshold and pain tolerance levels according to four different cleansing regimes. Methods: Forty healthy volunteers were randomly assigned to four groups; oil cleansing group, lotion cleansing group, solution cleansing group and alcohol cleansing group. All subjects were received lidocaine iontophoresis on the forearm using direct current with 4 mA for 10 minutes. All subjects were measured the duration of local anesthesia after lidocaine iontophoresis, also evaluated the sensory threshold, pain threshold and pain tolerance level during iontophoresis. For comparisons of the efficacy and the sensory characteristics of iontophoresis within the groups, an one-way ANOVA was used. Results: The duration of local anesthesia were found significant difference between groups (p<0.001). The anesthetic duration in solution and alcohol cleansing groups were significantly longer than oil and lotion cleansing group by post hoc (p<0.05). Statistically significant difference were noted in respect to all sensory characteristics such as sensory threshold, pain threshold and pain tolerance between groups (p<0.001). The sensory threshold in solution and alcohol cleansing group were significantly lower than oil and lotion cleansing group by post hoc using Duncan multiple range test (p<0.05). The pain threshold and pain tolerance in solution and alcohol cleansing group were significantly higher than oil and lotion cleansing group by post hoc (p<0.05). Conclusion: These results demonstrated that cleansing regimes have affected the efficacy and discomfort of iontophoretic transdermal delivery of lidocaine. These findings indicate that cleansing agents without oil ingredient contributed to more comfort, and more successful achievement of the iontophoretic transdermal delivery.

• Journal of Oral Medicine and Pain
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• v.32 no.4
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• pp.413-419
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• 2007

The aims of this study were to investigate the relationships among several types of thermal pain thresholds, and pressure pain thresholds. This study was designed to examine whether there were associations among different types of pain thresholds, and among different recording sites for each pain threshold measurement. Pain sensitivity thresholds including cold pain threshold (CPT), heat pain threshold (HPT), heat pain tolerance threshold (PTT), and pressure pain threshold (PPT) of 56 subjects with symptoms of temporomandibular disorders were measured on temporal muscle, masseter muscle, TMJ, and tibial areas. Thermal pain thresholds including CPT, HPT, and PTT did not show any gender differences. However, women showed significantly lower PPTs than men on all recording sites. Three thermal pain thresholds including CPT, HPT, and PTT showed weak to high correlations on all the recording sites (r= 0.324 to 0.754, p<0.05). PPTs did not show any significant correlations between each thermal pain threshold. The pain threshold of each recording site showed weak to high correlations in all pain threshold measures (r= 0.284 to 0.878, p<0.05). Our study demonstrated that thermal pain thresholds, and pain tolerance thresholds were significantly correlated, but did not show any correlation between thermal pain thresholds and pressure pain thresholds. There were relatively high correlations among the pain thresholds of different recording sites.

• The Korean Journal of Pain
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• v.31 no.1
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• pp.16-26
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• 2018

Background: The aim of this study was to investigate the association between neuroticism, pain catastrophizing, and experimentally induced pain threshold and pain tolerance in a healthy adult sample from two regions of the country of Croatia: the island of Korcula and city of Split. Methods: A total of 1,322 participants were enrolled from the Island of Korcula (n = 824) and the city of Split (n = 498). Participants completed a self-reported personality measure Eysenck Personality Questionnaire (EPQ) and pain catastrophizing questionnaire Pain Catastrophizing Scale (PCS), followed by a mechanical pain pressure threshold and tolerance test. We have explored the mediating role of catastrophizing in the relationship between neuroticism and pain intensity. Results: The results showed that pain catastrophizing partially mediated the relationship between neuroticism and pain intensity, suggesting the importance of pain catastrophizing in increasing vulnerability to pain. The results also indicated gender-related differences, marked by the higher pain threshold and tolerance in men. Conclusions: This study adds to the understanding of the complex interplay between personality and pain, by providing a better understanding of such mechanisms in healthy adults.

• Journal of Oral Medicine and Pain
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• v.32 no.2
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• pp.219-225
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• 2007

This investigation was carried out to evaluate the effect of pain control temporomandibular disorders with clinical application of capsaicin cream. 20 healthy subjects without systemic diseases were measured in current perception threshold and pain tolerance threshold with $Neurometer^{(R)}$ CPT/C (Neurotron, Inc. Baltimore, Maryland, USA) after cold pack, 0.025% capsaicin and 0.075% capsaicin cream application. The obtained results were as follows : 1. The current perception threshold of C-fiber was significantly higher to the baseline on. There were significantly increased in C- fiber current perception threshold of 0.025% capsaicin cream and 0.075% capsaicin cream application comparison to cold pack. 2. There was significantly increased in pain tolerance threshold of cold pack and 0.075% capsaicin application comparison to one of baseline as $A{\beta}$-fiber, There was significantly higher after cold pack and 0.025% capsaicin cream application than baseline as $A{\delta}$-fiber. In C-fiber case, 0.025% capsaicin application's was significantly increased than baseline one. 3.There were significantly higher C-fiber of 0.075% capsaicin application than baseline in visual analogue scale marking pain level of pain tolerance threshold.

• Journal of the Korean Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons
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• v.47 no.1
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• pp.15-19
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• 2021

Objectives: The aim of this study was to evaluate correlations between anxiety and preoperative pressure pain assessments and postoperative pain and analgesic requirements in impacted lower third molar tooth surgery. Materials and Methods: This prospective study enrolled 60 patients who underwent impacted lower third molar surgery. The preoperative State-Trait Anxiety Inventory-I (STAI-I), pressure pain threshold, and pressure pain tolerance scores were measured. At 2, 4, 6, 12, and 24 hours, and at 6 days following surgery, the patients scored their pain on the visual analogue scale and recorded their analgesic drug usage. The data were evaluated, and the results were statistically analyzed. Results: Of the 60 patients, 38 were female. Mean age was 24.62±7.42 years. The study found no relationship between preoperative pressure pain assessments and postoperative pain (P>0.05). There was also no relationship observed between preoperative STAI-I scores and postoperative pain (P>0.05). However, there was a positive correlation between operation time and total medication taken (P<0.05). Conclusion: Preoperative pressure pain threshold, pressure pain tolerance, and anxiety level had no significant effects on postoperative pain and analgesic requirements in impacted lower third molar surgery.

• Korean Journal of Psychosomatic Medicine
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• v.21 no.2
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• pp.140-146
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• 2013

Objectives: We compared the characteristics of the pain threshold and pain experience between demented group and non-demented group. Methods: This study was part of Gangwon projects for early detection of dementia in 2010. We recruited 8302 local resident ages over 65 years old. Of theses, 1259 people who scored low MMSE were selected and 365 of them completed CERAD-K(Consortium to Establish a Registry for Alzheimer's disease). Finally, 90 in non-demented group and 57 in demented group(mild to moderate Alzheimer's disease) were analyzed. Pain threshold was experimentally measured by pressure algometer and we investigated the pain experience, by Brief pain inventory (BPI), a self-report test. Results: In the demographic characteristics, there are more female, higher ages, lower education in the demented group. There was no significant difference between the two groups in the pain threshold. On the BPI results, 'shoulder pain', 'the number of pain' and 'interference of working' were significantly more prevalent in non-demented group. However, there are no significant differences between the groups in the 'pain severity', 'prevalence of pain' and 'pain treatment'. Conclusions: Demented group report less pain experience but, still perceived pain. It support previous studies that patient with dementia have increased pain tolerance but preserved pain threshold. Thus, active pain assessment and treatment for patients with dementia is needed.

• The Korean Journal of Pain
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• v.36 no.2
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• pp.173-183
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• 2023

Background: Understanding the stability of quantitative sensory tests (QSTs) over time is important to aid clinicians in selecting a battery of tests for assessing and monitoring patients. This study evaluated the short- and long-term reliability of selected QSTs. Methods: Twenty healthy women participated in three experimental sessions: Baseline, 2 weeks, and 6 months. Measurements included pressure pain thresholds (PPT) in the neck, upper back, and leg; Pressure-cuff pain tolerance around the upper-arm; conditioned pain modulation during a pressure-cuff stimulus; and referred pain following a suprathreshold pressure stimulation. Intraclass correlation coefficients (ICC) and minimum detectable change (MDC) were calculated. Results: Reliability for PPT was excellent for all sites at 2 weeks (ICC, 0.96-0.99; MDC, 22-55 kPa) and from good to excellent at 6 months (ICC, 0.88-0.95; MDC, 47-91 kPa). ICC for pressure-cuff pain tolerance indicated excellent reliability at both times (0.91-0.97). For conditioned pain modulation, reliability was moderate for all sites at 2 weeks (ICC, 0.57-0.74; MDC, 24%-35%), while it was moderate at the neck (ICC, 0.54; MDC, 27%) and poor at the upper back and leg at 6 months. ICC for referred pain areas was excellent at 2 weeks (0.90) and good at 6 months (0.86). Conclusions: PPT, pressure pain tolerance, and pressure-induced referred pain should be considered reliable procedures to assess the pain-sensory profile over time. In contrast, conditioned pain modulation was shown to be unstable. Future studies prospectively analyzing the pain-sensory profile will be able to better calculate appropriate sample sizes.

• Journal of Oral Medicine and Pain
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• v.30 no.4
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• pp.447-455
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• 2005

The purpose of this study was to examine the effect of Nd:YAG laser irradiation for sensory nerve conduction change. Nd:YAG laser was irradiated to mental region for 5 minutes with the parameters that 10 Hz and 20 Hz of 100 mJ/pulse. Target size of irradiation was 30 mm diameter of circle and target-tip distance was about 10 mm. Therefore, the power density were 212 $mW/cm^2$ and 424 $mW/cm^2$. Sensory nerve conduction was evaluated with $Neurometer^{\circled}$ CPT/C before and after Nd:YAG laser irradiation. As an outcomes, the current perception threshold(CPT) and pain tolerance threshold(PTT) were obtained. We made a comparison of these two values and the results were as follows. 1. There was no significant difference in CPT at 1W, 10 Hz and 2 W, 20 Hz Nd:YAG laser irradiation. 2. There was no significant difference in PTT at 10 Hz, 20 Hz of 100 mJ/pulse Nd:YAG laser. 3. There were no significant differences in CPT and PTT between 1 W, 10 Hz group and 2 W, 20 Hz group. Therefore, We can make a conclusion that Nd:YAG laser irradiation to mental region have no effect on mental nerve conduction in our study model.

• Journal of Oral Medicine and Pain
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• v.30 no.4
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• pp.465-473
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• 2005

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the desensitizing effects of a Nd:YAG laser (Sunlase, SUNRISE Technologies, Inc., USA) irradiation on cervically exposed hypersensitive dentine. 45 patients was irradiated with pulsed Nd:YAG laser (1.5 W, 20 Hz, 75 mJ/pulse, 4 minutes) as the experimental group, 27 patients was mock irradiated as the control group. The degree of sensitivity to the thermal and tactile stimuli were determined qualitatively with an evaporative stimulus defined as two times air blast at a distance of 3 mm from each site to be tested and with a mechanical stimulus as a slightly scratching the cervical site with a dental explorer. A qualitative registration of the degree of discomfort was determined according to a numerical pain scale(NPS) in an 11-point scale in which 0= "no pain" and 10="most excruciating pain imaginable". Recordings were assessed before treatment, immediately after, 1 and 2 weeks after treatment. Pain tolerance threshold and pulp vitality were evaluated with electric pulp tester before and immediately after treatment. 1. Desensitizing of hypersensitive dentine with Nd:YAG laser irradiation was more effective than that with mock irradiation. 2. The placebo effect of mock irradiation was recognized for severe sensitive teeth($NPS\;{\geqq}\;6$), but not for moderate sensitive teeth(NPS < 6). 3. Laser irradiation did not affect the pain tolerance threshold and pulp vitality of the hypersensitive teeth. 4. Desensitizing effect of laser irradiation for the hypersensitive teeth had been continuing at least 2 weeks. It was concluded that desensitizing of hypersensitive dentine with a Nd:YAG laser is effective and the maintenance of the positive result was more prolonged than the placebo effect.