SHORT-TERM REPRODUCIBILITY OF PRESSURE PAIN THRESHOLDS IN MASTICATORYMUSCLES MEASURED WITH A NEW ALGOMETER

The purpose of this project was to test the within-day and between-day s reproducibility of a new and inexpensive algometer. Twelve symptom-f ree men and nine women participated. Pressure pain thresholds (PPTs) o f the bilateral masseter and temporalis muscles were assessed during f our sessions (mornings and afternoons of days 1 and 3). During each se ssion, each palpation point of the masticatory muscles was measured fo ur times. There was an interval of only a few seconds between measurem ents 1 and 2, and between measurements 3 and 4, respectively, while at least 5 minutes of rest were allowed between measurements 2 and 3. Th e PPT values between the morning and afternoon sessions and between da ys 1 and 3 were not significantly different. When the within-session r eproducibility for all muscles was considered only the PPT values betw een measurements 2 and 4 were not significantly different. Analysis of variance showed that the interindividual variability of PPT was 1.4 t o 6.8 times higher than the variability observed within or between ses sions and days. No gender difference was found.