Pressure pain thresholds in healthy subjects: influence of physical activity, history of lower back pain factors and the use of endermology as a placebo-like treatment

Abstract To investigate the influence of different factors on pressure pain threshold (PPT) with reference to the back and hip muscles, a group of 34 healthy adults were examined. The PPT of selected measuring points in the low thoracolumbar Erector spinae and Glutei maximus & medius and Tensor fasciae latae were determined with the aid of a Fischer pressure algometer. The intra-observer reliability for the selected measuring points were checked with two experienced examiners and can be considered reliable. There was no significant difference noted in PPT when gender and age were considered. Individuals with a history of back pain have significantly reduced PPT ( P ≤0.05) with reference to the Erector spinae at the levels of T6, T10, L1 and L3, but this was not noted with reference to the hip area. Inversely, people taking part in sport and physical fitness activities have significantly increased PPT with reference to the Erector spinae muscles especially at the level of L1 and L3 ( P ≤0.01) and all tested points relating to the hip muscles, especially noted at the level of Gluteus medius and Tensor fasciae latae muscles ( P The group was randomly divided into a subgroup ( N =20) that received a minimal endermology treatment of 30minutes with an LPG ® system (Endermology is a completely non-invasive cellulite treatment with a machine-assisted cutaneous suction system, developed in France by Louis-Michel Guitay (LPG)) and a subgroup ( N =14) as a control group that rested sitting at ease for 30minutes. Neither the application of a minimal endermology treatment for 30minutes, nor a retest after 30minutes rest sitting at ease, has a significant effect on the PPT. The applied active placebo-like endermology treatment can be considered as a sham treatment.