Comparing Pain Sensitivity Tests: Clothes Peg vs. Electronic Algometer
Author Information
Author(s): Egloff Niklaus, Klingler Nicole, Känel Roland, Cámara Rafael JA, Curatolo Michele, Wegmann Barbara, Marti Elizabeth, Ferrari Marie-Louise Gander
Primary Institution: Bern University Hospital
Hypothesis
A simple pain provocation test with a clothes peg provides information on pain sensitivity that compares meaningfully to that obtained by a well-established electronic pressure algometer.
Conclusion
The study found that pain sensitivity measurements using a clothes peg correlate well with those from an electronic algometer.
Supporting Evidence
- Clothes peg values correlated with pressure pain detection thresholds for finger testing with r = -0.54.
- Clothes peg values correlated with pressure pain tolerance thresholds for finger testing with r = -0.55.
- Test-retest reliability showed stable results for both methods with r-values > 0.89.
Takeaway
This study shows that using a clothes peg can help doctors understand how much pain a patient feels, just like a more expensive machine.
Methodology
157 in-patients rated pain from a calibrated clothes peg and an electronic algometer on their fingers and earlobes.
Limitations
The study excluded patients with neuropathic pain and those with inflamed measuring sites.
Participant Demographics
Patients included 45% from orthopaedic and 55% from medical-psychosomatic departments, with a mean age of 52.4 years.
Statistical Information
P-Value
<0.001
Statistical Significance
p<0.001
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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