Pain threshold is not the same as pain tolerance, which measures how much pain someone can endure before they require relief. Distinguishing between them is crucial, especially in research settings, write Joshua Pate and Tory Madden.
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We’ve all heard someone claim they have a “high pain threshold” as if it’s a mark of strength or resilience. But does science support the idea that some people genuinely feel less pain than others?
Pain is an experience shaped by our psychology and social context, with many variables.
In our interviews with children about their experiences of pain, many link pain to “toughness”. It seems that social expectations shape our understanding of pain from a young age.
There are also plenty of misconceptions about pain thresholds, which contribute to health-care inequities that affect millions of people.
What is (and isn’t) a pain threshold?
A pain threshold technically refers to the point at which an event – such as heat, cold, or pressure – becomes painful.
It’s not the same as pain tolerance, which measures how much pain someone can endure before they require relief.
While these two terms often become muddled in everyday language, they describe different facets of the pain experience. Distinguishing between them is crucial, especially in research settings.
How stable is a pain threshold?
The stability of a pain threshold is controversial, and probably depends on how it is tested. Certain techniques produce fairly consistent results.
But the pain threshold may be more of a “zone of uncertainty” than a fixed point of transition from non-painful to painful.
We have argued that how variable someone’s pain threshold is may, in future, provide valuable information that could help us understand their risk of chronic pain and the best treatment options for them.
You can read the full article here: Some people say they have a high pain threshold. Here’s why.