A Comparison of Pressure Pain Detection Thresholds in People With Chronic Low Back Pain and Volunteers Without Pain

Abstract

Abstract Background and Purpose. Palpation is often utilized in the physical examination of patients with low back pain. The purpose of this study was to compare the pressure pain detection threshold (PPDT) of people with chronic low back pain (CLBP) and subjects without pain. Subjects and Methods. Thirty female subjects with CLBP were recruited from the offices of primary care physicians and physical therapists and compared with 30 female volunteers without pain for differences in PPDT at 6 sites tested bilaterally. Results. A significantly lower mean PPDT was found for all test site groups in subjects with CLBP compared with subjects without pain. A lower global PPDT was found in subjects with CLBP compared with subjects without pain (5.6 lb/cm2 versus 6.9 lb/cm2). This also was the case for PPDT for the group of test sites unrelated to the lumbar spine (5.1 lb/cm2 versus 6.1 lb/cm2) and for PPDT related to the lumbar spine (5.9 lb/cm2 versus 8.0 lb/cm2). Discussion and Conclusion. Neurobiological or biopsychosocial influences may have contributed to the lower PPDT evident in subjects with CLBP. Subjects with CLBP demonstrated a lower global PPDT compared with subjects without pain, which should be taken into account when interpreting findings of pain or tenderness from palpation.