Abstract
Aims: The aims of this study were to compare pressure pain thresholds (PPTs) between university students with and without undertreated neck pain and to assess intra-rater reliability and measurement error.Methods: University students with sub-clinical neck pain (n = 25) and age- and sex-matched pain-free participants (n = 25) were assessed for pain characteristics (location, intensity, frequency and duration) and had their PPTs measured bilaterally at C5–C6 zygapophyseal joint and upper trapezius. PPT measurements were taken three times at each site.Results: PPT measurements showed substantial to almost perfect intra-rater reliability (ICC between 0.79 and 0.95) but high minimal detectable differences (between 5.29 N/cm2 and 9.20 N/cm2). PPTs values were significantly lower in the group of participants with sub-clinical neck pain compared with the asymptomatic group (p<.05) for three out of the four sites of measurement.Conclusions: PPT measurements may be relevant to distinguish between individuals or groups but may be of limited value when assessing changes over time in the same individual with undertreated neck pain.
Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
