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Published on: April 14, 2016
Sports Medicine Patients Accurately Predict Their Pain Tolerance
Olivia L Gordon1, Natalie A Lowenstein, Jillian L Mazzocca
1From the Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, MA (Gordon, Lowenstein, Mazzocca, Collins, Medina, and Matzkin), Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA (Collins, Medina, and Matzkin), and Sidney Kimmel Medical College, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, PA (Lowenstein).
Sports medicine patients can accurately predict their pain tolerance using objective tests. This finding offers a valuable tool for enhancing clinical decision-making in pain management.
Area of Science:
- Sports Medicine
- Pain Management
- Clinical Assessment
Background:
- Assessing patients' ability to predict and perceive pain is crucial.
- Objective pain tolerance testing can provide valuable insights.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the accuracy of sports medicine patients' pain prediction.
- To determine if patients can perceive their pain tolerance objectively.
Main Methods:
- A prospective cohort study involving 202 sports medicine patients.
- Utilized the "OUCH Test" for predictive pain tolerance assessment.
- Excluded non-English speakers and individuals under 18.
Main Results:
- 94% of patients reached the highest pain tolerance level on the "OUCH Test".
- 57% of patients reported higher actual pain tolerance than predicted.
- A significant correlation (P < 0.001) was found between predicted and actual pain tolerance.
Conclusions:
- Sports medicine patients demonstrate relative accuracy in predicting pain tolerance.
- The "OUCH Test" serves as a valuable tool for clinical decision-making.
- No significant differences in pain tolerance prediction were observed across demographic or clinical subgroups.
