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Updated: Jul 7, 2026
Determining Pain Detection and Tolerance Thresholds Using an Integrated, Multi-Modal Pain Task Battery
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).
Introduction:
The purpose of this study was to assess whether patients can accurately predict and perceive their pain using an objective test. The authors hypothesized that sports medicine patients would demonstrate the ability to predict their pain tolerance.
Methods:
Two hundred two patients receiving care from a single surgeon at an academic medical center consented to participate in this study. Exclusion criteria included non-English speaking subjects and those younger than 18 years. Subjects were administered a survey and a pain tolerance threshold test using the "OUCH Test" by a research assistant in an examination room during their clinical encounter. The "OUCH Test" is an instrument for predictive pain tolerance, with higher levels indicating higher pain tolerance.
Results:
One hundred ninety patients (94%) reached the highest level of the "OUCH Test." One hundred sixteen patients (57%) reported that they had reached a higher level on the device than they initially predicted. The correlation between actual and predicted level reached on the "OUCH Test" device was significant (r = 0.344 confidence interval, 0.217-0.461; P < 0.001). No notable differences were observed in "OUCH Test" results when comparing male and female patients, smokers and nonsmokers, Worker's Compensation patients, or patients who used pain medication in the 24 hours before their clinic visit.
Discussion:
This study demonstrates that sports medicine patients can predict and perceive their pain tolerance with relative accuracy, offering a valuable tool for optimizing clinical decision making.
Level Of Evidence:
II-Prospective Cohort Study.
