The Associations between Pain Sensitivity and Knee Muscle Strength in Healthy Volunteers: A Cross-Sectional Study
Table 2
Relationships between isometric knee muscle strength in extension and flexion and different measures of pain sensitivity at different assessment sites.
Univariate analyses
Multivariate analyses†
Coefficient (95% CI)
Coefficient (95% CI)
PPTCCPA (kg)
Vastus Lateralis
Knee extension (Nm/kg)
1.77 (0.79; 2.75)
0.001
1.20 (0.21; 2.19)
0.02
Knee flexion (Nm/kg)
2.21 (0.33; 4.10)
0.02
1.50 (−0.31; 3.32)
0.10
Deltoideus
Knee extension (Nm/kg)
1.40 (−0.32; 3.12)
0.10
0.48 (−1.29; 2.25)
0.58
Knee flexion (Nm/kg)
1.30 (−1.76; 4.36)
0.39
0.21 (2.87; 3.28)
0.89
Infrapatellar fat pad
Knee extension (Nm/kg)
1.73 (0.12; 3.33)
0.04
1.61 (−0.35; 3.47)
0.09
Knee flexion (Nm/kg)
0.91 (−2.07; 3.89)
0.53
0.59 (−2.82; 4.00)
0.72
PPTCUFF lower leg (kPa)
Knee extension (Nm/kg)
0.70 (−5.49; 6.88)
0.82
−0.23 (−7.56; 7.09)
0.95
Knee flexion (Nm/kg)
−0.26 (−10.89; 10.36)
0.96
−0.66 (−13.3; 12.0)
0.92
Saline-induced pain intensity (mm)
Vastus Lateralis
Knee extension (Nm/kg)
−6.59 (−26.55; 13.38)
0.50
−4.29 (−27.30; 18.71)
0.70
Knee flexion (Nm/kg)
−3.28 (−37.81; 31.25)
0.85
−4.23 (−44.08; 35.63)
0.83
Deltoideus
Knee extension (Nm/kg)
5.17 (−12.76; 23.11)
0.56
−0.60 (−21.85; 20.64)
0.95
Knee flexion (Nm/kg)
6.19 (−24.68; 37.06)
0.68
−7.12 (−43.73; 29.50)
0.69
Infrapatellar fat pad
Knee extension (Nm/kg)
−13.00 (−36.81; 10.81)
0.27
−6.13 (−32.51; 20.24)
0.64
Knee flexion (Nm/kg)
−11.94 (−53.48; 29.61)
0.56
−7.56 (−53.26; 38.15)
0.74
Experimental pain duration (s)
Vastus Lateralis
Knee extension (Nm/kg)
−151.3 (−322.7; 20.16)
0.08
−89.5 (−285.2; 106.3)
0.35
Knee flexion (Nm/kg)
−197.3 (−499.1; 104.5)
0.19
−132.6 (−472.7; 207.5)
0.43
Deltoideus
Knee extension (Nm/kg)
−92.4 (−312.9; 128.2)
0.40
−112.2 (−381.4; 155.9)
0.40
Knee flexion (Nm/kg)
−265.4 (−634.0; 103.1)
0.15
−323.4 (−775.0; 128.2)
0.15
Infrapatellar fat pad
Knee extension (Nm/kg)
−221.5 (−453.7; 10.7)
0.06
−105.8 (361.4; 149.7)
0.40
Knee flexion (Nm/kg)
−211.2 (−629.4; 207.0)
0.31
−42.6 (−490.7; 405.6)
0.85
Adjusting for age and sex. PPTCCPA: pressure pain threshold assessed by computer-controlled pressure algometry; PPTCUFF: pressure pain threshold assessed by computerized cuff algometry.
