Evaluation of Pressure Pain Threshold in Head and Neck Muscles by Electronic Algometer: Intrarater and Interrater Reliability

Abstract

Using a new electronic algometer, the mean values and standard deviations of pressure pain threshold and the intrarater and interrater reliability were evaluated on 13 muscles of the human head and neck region. The subjects were 40 healthy individuals, 21 females and 19 males. A comparison with data obtained from contralateral muscles failed to demonstrate significant differences. Statistically significant correlation coefficients were obtained from the values of intra-examiners and inter-examiners in all muscles except the medial pterygoid and middle sternocleidomastoid muscle in male subjects (p < 0.05). This study showed that the electronic algometer could be recommended for evaluation of the pressure pain threshold of human head and neck muscles in clinical and experimental studies.