Background: Measurement of the pressure pain threshold and suprathreshold pressure pain sensitivity using a newly developed computer controlled algometer was compared to established methods in this pilot study.
Methods: The pressure pain threshold was measured in 64 chronic pain patients and 37 healthy volunteers with a manual electronic algometer (Somedic) and the computer controlled Algoforce PA3. Stimulus-response curves with painful stimuli were applied using the Algoforce PA3 and a hydraulic algometer.
Results: Overall means and variance of the pressure pain thresholds for both methods were similar. For low pain thresholds the Algoforce PA3 generally resulted in lower values and for high pain thresholds in higher values. No differences were seen for suprathreshold pain sensitivity. Gender and the presence of chronic pain had no relevant effect on the different methods in both comparisons.
Conclusion: For clinical use, the algometers investigated deliver comparable results. For studies requiring high precision with low levels of stimulation the use of the Algoforce PA3 could be considered.