Pressure pain threshold and tolerance in the lower limbs of young adults: insights for ergonomic design of compression garments

Abstract Pressure sensitivity plays a critical role in determining the comfort, fit, and functionality of compression garments and wearable textile products. This study investigated pressure pain threshold (PPT) and pressure pain tolerance (PPTo) across the lower limbs of 20 healthy young adults (10 males, 10 females) using a pressure algometer at multiple anatomical sites. Significant gender differences were observed: males generally exhibited higher PPT and PPTo values, whereas females showed greater pressure sensitivity across the tested lower-limb sites. Pressure sensitivity also varied with limb circumferential orientation. The medial and posterior regions of the gastrocnemius tended to be the most sensitive, whereas the anterior and lateral regions generally exhibited greater tolerance. Longitudinal variation was also evident, with the proximal sub-popliteal area being relatively more sensitive and the distal mid- and lower-shank regions showing greater tolerance. These findings indicate that pressure perception in the lower limbs is not uniform but follows distinct anatomical and gender-related patterns. The results indicate the importance of considering both body location and gender in pressure sensitivity analysis and provide actionable insights for optimizing pressure magnitude and distribution, material selection, and structural design in compression garments. Integrating such ergonomic evidence into product design and development may enhance user comfort, wearability, and functional performance in health-related wearable textile applications.