Objective: To analyze the profiles of pressure pain threshold (PPT) and pressure pain tolerance (PTO) of healthy undergraduates so as to establish the normal reference ranges of PPT and PTO.
Methods: The levels of PPT and PTO were measured at lateral brachioradialis of lateral elbow joint with a pressure algometer in 113 healthy undergraduates. Then the influencing factors of tenderness thresholds were analyzed and the normal reference ranges of PPT and PTO established.
Results: The females exhibited a lower PPT than the males (P < 0.01). And the gender differences of PTO were statistically insignificant (P > 0.05). Meanwhile, there was no significant difference in either PPT or PTO between the right and left sides (P > 0.05). The normal reference ranges (kg/cm(2)) of PPT and PTO were obtained at the measuring spot of all subjects. As a result, the ranges of PPT were 1.19 - 4.63 in the males and 0.37 - 3.63 in the females. And the range of PTO was 1.80 - 8.50 in all subjects.
Conclusion: This survey establishes the normal reference ranges of tenderness thresholds at the specific measuring spot for some specific population. These ranges may serve as a reference for the sensitivity of individual tenderness safely, accurately and simply.