RELIABILITY AND VALIDITY OF THE PRESSURE PAIN THRESHOLDS (PPT) IN THE TMJ CAPSULES BY ELECTRONIC ALGOMETER

Pressure pain thresholds (PPT) of 39 normal subjects (20 males and 19 females) and 30 female patients with temporomandibular joint (TMJ) capsulitis (21 lateral and 25 posterior capsulitis) were examined by an electronic algometer. In normal subjects, statistically significant correlation coefficients were obtained from the values of intra-examiners and inter-examiners in both lateral and posterior TMJ capsules (p<0.01). A comparison with data obtained from contralateral sides failed to demonstrate significant differences. Statistically significant differences were found between the PPT of normal female subjects and female patients with capsulitis in both lateral and posterior TMJ capsules (p<0.01).