Abstract
Background: Experienced assessors show good intra-rater reproducibility (within-session and between-session agreement and reliability) when using an algometer to determine pressure pain thresholds (PPT). However, it is unknown whether novice assessors perform equally well. This study aimed to determine within and between-session agreement and reliability of PPT measurements performed by novice assessors and explored whether these parameters differed per assessor and algometer type. Methods: Ten novice assessors measured PPTs over four test locations (tibialis anterior muscle, rectus femoris muscle, extensor carpi radialis brevis muscle and paraspinal muscles C5-C6) in 178 healthy participants, using either a Somedic Type II digital algometer (10 raters; 88 participants) or a Wagner Force Ten FDX 25 digital algometer (nine raters; 90 participants). Prior to the experiment, the novice assessors practiced PPTs for 3 h per algometer. Each assessor measured a different subsample of ~9 participants. For both the individual assessor and for all assessors combined (i.e., the group representing novice assessors), the standard error of measurement (SEM) and coefficient of variation (CV) were calculated to reflect within and between-session agreement. Reliability was assessed using intraclass correlation coefficients (ICC1, 1). Results: Within-session agreement expressed as SEM ranged from 42 to 74 kPa, depending on the test location and device. Between-session agreement, expressed as SEM, ranged from 36 to 76 kPa and the CV ranged from 9-16% per body location. Individual assessors differed from the mean group results, ranging from -55 to +32 kPa or from -9.5 to +6.6 percentage points. Reliability was good to excellent (ICC1, 1: 0.87 to 0.95). Results were similar for both types of algometers. Conclusions: Following 3 h of algometer practice, there were slight differences between assessors, but reproducibility in determining PPTs was overall good.
Original language | English |
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Article number | e14565 |
Pages (from-to) | 1-20 |
Number of pages | 20 |
Journal | PeerJ |
Volume | 11 |
DOIs | |
Publication status | Published - 4 Jan 2023 |
Bibliographical note
Funding Information:This study was conducted with a research grant for teachers of the Dutch Organisation of Scientific Research (NWO) under project number 023.011.069. The funders had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript.
Publisher Copyright:
Copyright © 2023 Reezigt et al.
Funding
This study was conducted with a research grant for teachers of the Dutch Organisation of Scientific Research (NWO) under project number 023.011.069. The funders had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript.
Funders | Funder number |
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Dutch Organisation of Scientific Research | |
Nederlandse Organisatie voor Wetenschappelijk Onderzoek | 023.011.069 |
Keywords
- Central sensitisation
- Mechanical hyperalgesia
- Novice assessor
- Novice rater
- Pain measurement
- Pain sensitivity
- Pressure pain threshold
- Quantitative sensory testing
- Reliability
- Reproducibility