Facial pressure pain thresholds in healthy Chinese adults: Distributions and associated factors

OBJECTIVES: To characterize facial pressure pain threshold (PPT) distributions and examine associations with sex, age, education, side, and anatomical region in healthy adults recruited in China. METHODS: This cross-sectional study included 200 healthy adults. Bilateral PPTs were measured over the temporomandibular joint, masseter, and temporalis regions. Associations with demographic characteristics and side were examined using statistical comparisons and adjusted region-level models. RESULTS: PPT distributions were unimodal and skewed, with a consistent regional hierarchy. Continuous age was positively associated with PPT in adjusted models; adults aged 46-60 years had higher PPT than those aged 18-30 years at all sites. Side differences were site-specific, no sex differences were detected, and education-related estimates varied by contrast. CONCLUSION: Facial PPT in healthy adults showed a clear regional hierarchy and varying associations with demographic characteristics. These data are more appropriate for group-level comparison than individual diagnostic use; further validation in healthy and TMD populations is needed before clinical translation.