Pressure threshold meter: its use for quantification of tender spots

Area of Science:

• Musculoskeletal medicine
• Pain management
• Biomedical engineering

Background:

• Tender spots and trigger points are common sources of pain.
• Objective quantification of tenderness is crucial for diagnosis and treatment monitoring.
• Existing methods may lack precision in assessing soft tissue tenderness.

Purpose of the Study:

• To describe the pressure threshold meter (PTM) and its application.
• To establish normal pressure threshold values for trigger point evaluation.
• To demonstrate the clinical utility of the PTM in assessing treatment efficacy.

Main Methods:

• The pressure threshold meter (PTM) utilizes a force gauge with a 1 cm² rubber disc.
• Normal threshold values were determined in 50 healthy volunteers across nine common trigger point sites.
• The deltoid muscle served as a reference for normal muscle sensitivity.

Main Results:

• Established normal pressure threshold values at key anatomical locations.
• Demonstrated PTM's clinical use for medicolegal purposes and patient education.
• Observed a typical increase of 4 kg/cm² in pressure threshold post-effective trigger point injections.

Conclusions:

• The PTM provides objective, quantitative assessment of tenderness and trigger points.
• It is valuable for monitoring treatment response, including physiotherapy and injections.
• The PTM aids in diagnosing and managing musculoskeletal pain conditions like fibrositis and arthritis.