| Reliability and Validity of a Brief Method to Assess Nociceptive Flexion Reflex (NFR) Threshold. | |
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MedLine Citation:
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PMID: 21481651 Owner: NLM Status: Publisher |
Abstract/OtherAbstract:
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The nociceptive flexion reflex (NFR) is a physiological tool to study spinal nociception. However, NFR assessment can take several minutes and expose participants to repeated suprathreshold stimulations. The 4 studies reported here assessed the reliability and validity of a brief method to assess NFR threshold that uses a single ascending series of stimulations (Peak 1 NFR), by comparing it to a well-validated method that uses 3 ascending/descending staircases of stimulations (Staircase NFR). Correlations between the NFR definitions were high, were on par with test-retest correlations of Staircase NFR, and were not affected by participant sex or chronic pain status. Results also indicated the test-retest reliabilities for the 2 definitions were similar. Using larger stimulus increments (4 mAs) to assess Peak 1 NFR tended to result in higher NFR threshold estimates than using the Staircase NFR definition, whereas smaller stimulus increments (2 mAs) tended to result in lower NFR threshold estimates than the Staircase NFR definition. Neither NFR definition was correlated with anxiety, pain catastrophizing, or anxiety sensitivity. In sum, a single ascending series of electrical stimulations results in a reliable and valid estimate of NFR threshold. However, caution may be warranted when comparing NFR thresholds across studies that differ in the ascending stimulus increments. PERSPECTIVE: This brief method to assess NFR threshold is reliable and valid; therefore, it should be useful to clinical pain researchers interested in quickly assessing inter- and intra-individual differences in spinal nociceptive processes. |
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Authors:
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Jamie L Rhudy; Christopher R France |
Publication Detail:
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Type: JOURNAL ARTICLE Date: 2011-4-8 |
Journal Detail:
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Title: The journal of pain : official journal of the American Pain Society Volume: - ISSN: 1528-8447 ISO Abbreviation: - Publication Date: 2011 Apr |
Date Detail:
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Created Date: 2011-4-12 Completed Date: - Revised Date: - |
Medline Journal Info:
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Nlm Unique ID: 100898657 Medline TA: J Pain Country: - |
Other Details:
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Languages: ENG Pagination: - Citation Subset: - |
Copyright Information:
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Copyright © 2011 American Pain Society. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved. |
Affiliation:
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Department of Psychology, The University of Tulsa, Tulsa, Oklahoma. |
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From MEDLINE®/PubMed®, a database of the U.S. National Library of Medicine
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