Algometry. Measuring pain threshold, method and characteristics in healthy subjects.

A pressure algometer was tested using a specially designed protocol in 28 healthy adult males and females. Two observers examined the pressure threshold (PT) of local tenderness at the joints of the wrists, elbows, knees, ankles, and at the paravertebral tissues. Several characteristics of the instrument were found. There were no significant differences in PT's between the same points on either side of the body (r = 0.738-0.934). A large source of variance was the measurement of one area within short time intervals. No significant differences in means were found between the two observers for the paravertebral points, while significant differences were found at the peripheral joints. Male subjects had significantly higher PT's than females. The PT's of the paravertebral tissues decreased in a cranial direction, while PT's of the peripheral joints showed similar levels. There was no significant influence on observing PT's on different dates or in a different order.