Pressure Pain Thresholds [PPT] of Head and Neck Muscles in a Normal Population

Objectives: The purpose of this study is to evaluate the pressure pain thresholds [PPTS] of head and neck muscles in a normal population without any history of headache, facial, or neck pain according to gender and age. Methods: Thirteen pairs of head and neck muscles of 207 normal subjects, 104 males and 103 females, were examined by one observer with one Electronic Algometer [Type I, Somedic, Sweden]. The subjects were grouped into the age distribution of the 10s, 20s, 30s, 40s and 50s and all age groups were composed of 20-24 males and 19-23 females. Results: Gender differences in PPT were found in 6 muscles among 13 muscles in the teen age group, 12 muscles in the group of the 20s subjects, 9 muscles in the group of the 30s subjects, 5 muscles in the group of the 40s subjects and 4 muscles in the group of the 50s subjects [P < 0.05]. Significant differences of PPT in accordance with age groups were found in 5 muscles in male subjects and 10 muscles in female subjects [P < 0.05]. Although definite corr...