Reliability and validity of the pain threshold measurement with the Dolorímetro Electrónico Portátil ® (Portable Electronic Dolorimeter) in healthy individuals and patients with musculoskeletal pain

Abstract Aims: The objective of this study was to establish the reliability and validity of the measurement of the pressure pain threshold using the Dolorimetro Electronico Portatil (Portable Electronic Dolorimeter) (DEP®) in persons without pain (12 men and 18 women) and in patients with chronic pain (16 women with systemic lupus erythematosus, 16 women with fibromyalgia and 15 women with rheumatoid arthritis). Methods: The assessment of the pressure pain threshold using the DEP® was done over three sessions with a 15 minute interval between the first and second session, and a 7 day interval between the second and third session. Each session comprised two trials in which 24 pressure points were evaluated. Results: Regarding reliability, high correlation coefficients were obtained in the three temporal conditions (within sessions without interval: ρ = 0.922, p < 0.001; inmediate, or brief interval between sessions (15 min): ρ = 0.932, p < 0.001; demorated, or long interval between sessions (7 days): ρ = 0...