Thermal pain tolerance and pain rating in normal subjects: Gender and age effects

Thermal detection thresholds and thermal pain thresholds are important in quantitative sensory testing. Although they have been well studied for assessing somatosensory function, the investigation of thermal pain tolerance has been insufficient. The aim of this study was to explore the characteristics of thermal pain tolerance and pain ratings in healthy subjects.

Cold pain tolerance (CPTol) and heat pain tolerance (HPTol) were tested in 213 healthy adults aged 18-81 years recruited from the local community. The thermal detection and thermal pain thresholds were also tested to investigate the association with pain tolerance. The visual analogue scale (VAS) was used for assessing pain severity immediately after the thermal pain and tolerance tests.

The normality of the CPTol and HPTol was acceptable. Most participants rated the pain induced by the CPTol and HPTol testing as moderate. HPTol was lower in women than in men (p = 0.001), but CPTol did not differ between sexes. The pain ratings of CPTol and HPTol did not differ between sexes, but significant age effects were observed. The association of the tolerance temperature with pain ratings was weak, while those of pain ratings for CPTol and HPTol were strong (r = 0.87).

Women were more sensitive to tolerance heat pain stimuli. Younger participants reported more pain for thermal pain and tolerance tests.

Thermal pain tolerance and pain rating for the thermal pain tolerance temperature depend on gender and age. Women are more sensitive to heat temperatures, young people rate more pain, and the pain ratings of heat and cold are strongly correlated.