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Development of a topical menthol stimulus to evaluate cold hyperalgesia
Anthony Wright1, Heather A E Benson2, Penny Moss1
1School of Physiotherapy and Exercise Science, Curtin University, GPO Box U1987, Perth, WA 6845, Australia.
Musculoskeletal Science & Practice
|April 24, 2019
Summary
Topical menthol effectively stimulates cold sensations and pain, showing potential for evaluating cold hyperalgesia. This research indicates menthol
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Pain Research
- Dermatology
Background:
- Cold hyperalgesia signifies heightened pain sensitivity and is linked to adverse clinical outcomes.
- Menthol is known to activate the TRPM8 receptor, which is involved in sensing cold stimuli.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the efficacy of topical menthol as a stimulus for assessing cold hyperalgesia in clinical settings.
- To evaluate the concentration-dependent effects of menthol on sensory perception and pain.
Main Methods:
- A blinded, repeated-measures study involving 59 pain-free volunteers.
- Application of various concentrations of menthol in liquid and gel formulations to the forearm.
- Assessment of sensory ratings using visual analogue scales and the McGill Pain Questionnaire, alongside cold pain threshold (CPT) measurements.
Main Results:
- Significant concentration-dependent increases in cold intensity, unpleasantness, and pain ratings were observed.
- Menthol application showed significant concentration-dependent effects on the pain rating index (PRI) and number of words chosen (NWC).
- Correlations were found between sensory measures (unpleasantness, pain, PRI, NWC) and CPT, varying with menthol concentration.
Conclusions:
- Topical menthol demonstrates potential as a reliable stimulus for the clinical evaluation of cold hyperalgesia.
- The concentration of menthol influences the intensity and quality of evoked sensations, suggesting its utility in quantitative sensory testing.
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