Abstract
BACKGROUND: Pain perception in older adults is influenced by various physiological factors, including muscle health. While sarcopenia has been linked to increased pain sensitivity, the specific relationships between muscle mass, strength, and pain sensitivity remain underexplored. OBJECTIVE: To examine the associations between skeletal muscle mass, skeletal muscle index (SMI), handgrip strength (HGS), and pressure pain threshold and tolerance in older adults. METHODS: A cross-sectional study was conducted among 47 older adults (mean age 69.4 ± 9.1 years) residing in long-term care. Pressure pain threshold and tolerance were measured at three anatomical sites using algometry. Muscle metrics, including whole-body and regional skeletal muscle mass, SMI (kg/m(2)), and HGS (kg), were assessed. Multiple linear regression analyses were performed, adjusting for age, gender, BMI, comorbidities, and analgesic use. RESULTS: All muscle metrics showed significant positive correlations with pain threshold and tolerance. After adjustment for confounders, these associations remained significant. HGS and whole-body skeletal muscle mass were the strongest predictors, indicating that participants with higher muscle mass and strength had greater pressure pain tolerance. CONCLUSION: Higher skeletal muscle mass and strength are independently associated with reduced pain sensitivity in older adults, suggesting that muscle health may be a modifiable factor in pain management.