THERMAL AND MECHANICAL PAIN ASSESSMENT IN HUMANS: A PRELIMINARY STUDY.

Preliminary data of cold and heat sensations, and mechanical pressure thresholds and pressure pain thresholds in healthy student volunteers are reported in the study. We did not find any statistically significant differences of these indexes in relation to ethnicity. However, we revealed gender related differences on the mechanical pressure pain threshold and not for mechanical pressure sensation threshold. Our study confirmed significant variability across trials and individuals, which appeared greater at lower heat and mechanical pressure intensities. Additional studies are needed to determine ethnic and gender differences between groups.