Influence of gender on cold-induced pain

摘要

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Ice as treatment modality is indiscriminately used without considering possible differences between males and females in terms of threshold and tolerance to cold-induced pain during cryotherapy. Pain referred by patients during cryotherapy may be a defense mechanism against possible tissue injury caused by severe vasoconstriction. This study aimed at observing the difference in threshold, tolerance and perception of cold-induced pain between individuals of both genders. METHODS: Participated in the study 117 young volunteers of both genders, who were submitted to cold-induced pain protocol simulating a situation of immersion cryotherapy. RESULTS: The study has shown significant differences between genders in pain threshold and tolerance. Pain perception was not significantly different between groups. CONCLUSION: Males had higher threshold and tolerance to cold-induced pain as compared to females. According to results, one may infer that differences in responses between genders should be respected, since indiscriminate standardization of cryotherapy application time might result in tissue injury.