Pain threshold between men and women with different fat masses and percentages

ABSTRACT BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: There is a data gap regarding cold pain and pressure pain in healthy young individuals. The present study aimed to compare cold pain threshold and intensity and pressure threshold in young men and women with different fat percentages. METHODS: The study included 30 men and 42 women aged between 18 and 25 years, divided into two groups: normal - body mass index ≤24.9 and overweight - ≥25. Fat percentage was estimated by tetrapolar bioimpedance, pain-pressure threshold by pressure algometer, cold pain threshold was timed, and the intensity measured by the visual analog scale. RESULTS: The intensity of pain caused by cold showed no significant difference between groups, as well as the cold pain threshold and the initial and final pain threshold. The same behavior happened within the men and women groups. When comparing the difference between genders, pressure pain and cold pain thresholds had significant differences. Pain intensity did not differ between genders. CONCLUSION: Fat percentage did not affect the response time of cold pain and pressure pain thresholds and pain intensity in young adults. When considering gender, although the cold pain threshold in men was higher than in women, pain intensity was similar.