• Erin A Dannecker, Heather A Hausenblas, Thomas W Kaminski, and Michael E Robinson.
• Department of Physical Therapy, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO 65211-4250, USA. danneckere@missouri.edu
• Clin J Pain. 2005 Mar 1; 21 (2): 120-6.

ObjectiveIn contrast to the research using typical experimental pain stimuli, there is no consensus that women are more sensitive to delayed onset muscle pain than men. The purpose of this study was to examine sex differences in delayed onset muscle pain with use of a quantified stimulus intensity and multidimensional and valid pain measures.MethodsNinety-five participants (49.5% women) completed eccentric exercise and then returned to the laboratory at 24 and 48 hours postexercise. The same relative intensity of the eccentric exercise was administered to women and men based on their eccentric strength.ResultsThe occurrence of muscle pain was confirmed by increases in intensity, F2, 182 = 162.28, P<0.01, eta = 0.64, and unpleasantness, F2, 182 = 204.03, P < 0.01, eta = 0.69, and standardized pain ratings, F2, 180 = 67.44, P < 0.01, eta = 0.43. The affective ratios indicated that the muscle pain was more unpleasant than intense. No sex differences were detected except that men reported higher affective ratios than women, F1, 92 = 4.06, P < 0.05, eta = 0.04.DiscussionThe absence of higher muscle pain ratings in women than men in this investigation resembles a review of the delayed onset muscle soreness and pain literature. However, the findings contradict a few other acute muscle pain investigations, in which actual muscle tissue damage was not induced by eccentric contractions. Additional research is required to identify the parameters that influence the detection of sex differences.

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