Algometer
Algometry has been used in a number of applications to measure soft tissue tenderness (Nussbaum and Downes 1998). It has been used to quantify trigger points (Delaney and McKee 1993), to assess the effects of treatment regimes (Dhondt et al. 1999; Fryer et al. 2004; Svendsen et al. 2006; (Ylinen et al., 2005)), to assess the relationship between PPT in patients with LBP and disability (Farasyn 2005), whether tender points are associated with cervical radiculopathy (Letchuman et al., 2005) and the effects of mobilisations (Krouwel et al 2009).
Technical
- Built-in American College of Rheumatology fibromyalgia testing protocols
- Visual "pacer" helps you control the rate of pressure application
- Allows the patient to control the end of the test using the enter switch, which helps increase objectivity and overall test
- Auto report generation
- Research proven instrument reliability
- Referenced pressure threshold norms
References
Delaney, G.A., McKee, A.C. 1993 Inter and intrarater reliability of the pressure threshold meter in measurement of myofascial trigger point sensitivity. American Journal of Physical and Rehabilitative Medicine 72:136-139
Dhondt, W. et al. 1999 Pain thresholds in patients with rheumatoid arthritis and effects of manual oscillations. Scandinavian Journal of Rheumatology 28:88-93
Farasyn, A., Meeusen, R. 2005 The Influence of non-specific low back pain on pressure pain thresholds and disability. European Journal of Pain 9:375-381
Krouwel O, Hebron, C, Willett E. An Investigation into the Potential Hypoalgesic Effects of Different Amplitudes of PA Mobilisations on the Lumbar Spine as Measured by Pressure Pain Thresholds (PPT). Manual Therapy. Doi:10.1016/j.math.2009.05.013
Letchuman, R., Gay, R. E., Shelerud, R. A., and VanOstrand, L. A. (2005). Are Tender Points Associated With Cervical Radiculopathy? Archives of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation 86, 1333-1337.
Nussbaum, E.L., Downes, L. 1998 Reliability of clinical pressure-pain algometric measurements obtained on consecutive days. Physical Therapy 78(2): 160-170.
Rolke, R., Magerl, W., Campbell, K. A., Schalber, C., Caspari, S., Birklein, F., and Treede, R. D. (2006). Quantitative sensory testing: a comprehensive protocol for clinical trials. European Journal of Pain 10, 77-88.
Svendsen, K.B. et al. 2006 Does the cannabinoid dronabinol reduce central pain in multiple sclerosis? Randomised double blind controlled crossover trial. BMJ, doi:10.1136/bmj.38149.566979.AE
Vanderweeën, L., Oostendorp, R. A. B., Vaes, P., and Duquet, W. (1996). Pressure algometry in manual therapy. Manual Therapy 1, 258-265.
Ylinen, J., Takala, E.-P., Kautiainen, H., Nykanen, M., Hakkinen, A., Pohjolainen, T., Karppi, S.-L., and Airaksinen, O. (2005). Effect of long-term neck muscle training on pressure pain threshold: A randomized controlled trial. European Journal of Pain 9, 673-681.
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