Tohoku J. Exp. Med., 2019 July, 248(3)

Correlation of Pressure Pain Threshold with Segmental Water Content among Female Farmers

HEE YONG KANG,¹ DABI SHIN² and EUN KYOUNG KANG²

¹Department of Anesthesiology and Pain Medicine, Kyung Hee University, Seoul, Republic of Korea
²Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, Kangwon National University Hospital, and School of Medicine, Kangwon National University, Chuncheon, Republic of Korea

Body composition (BC) is related to the pathogenesis of musculoskeletal disease, especially research focused on the role of fat and muscle mass. This study aimed to identify the associations between the pressure pain threshold (PPT) and pain-related factors including BC. A total of 64 healthy farmers (21 males and 43 females) were recruited, and baseline data were analyzed cross-sectionally. Demographic characteristics (sex, age, marital status, education duration, current status of smoking and alcohol drinking, height, body weight, and underlying diseases) and a psychologic characteristic (a Korean version of the Beck Depression Inventory [BDI]) were assessed. Additionally, body composition analysis using bioelectrical impedance analysis (BIA) was performed. PPT was measured by applying an increasing amount of blunt pressure using a 1 cm² hard rubber end at the thenar region of the right hand with a constant increase in pressure of 50 kPa/s. The PPT was measured on a single day, and the average value was used for analysis. The male group (67.00 ± 9.12 years) was older than the female group (62.21 ± 6.77 years; p = 0.021). In the body composition analysis, only segmental water of the right arm was positively related to PPT (β = 0.331, p = 0.030) in the multivariate linear regression analysis. In conclusion, hydration status was related to PPT with clinical implication that sufficient hydration could reduce the pain susceptibility. Thus, when assessing the painful condition, checking the hydration status could be helpful before the intensive treatment.

keywords —— bioelectrical impedance analysis; body composition; hydration; pressure pain threshold; segmental water analysis

© 2019 Tohoku University Medical Press

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Tohoku J. Exp. Med., 2019, 248, 217-223

Correspondence: Eun Kyoung Kang, M.D., Ph.D., Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, Kangwon National University Hospital, and School of Medicine, Kangwon National University, 156 Baengnyeongro, Chuncheon, Gangwon-do 24289, Republic of Korea.

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