Quantative sensory testing (QST)

Quantitative sensory testing is a structured method for assessing how patients perceive sensory stimuli such as pressure, vibration, heat or cold.

Instead of relying only on subjective descriptions of pain, QST uses reproducible, measurable tests to evaluate how the sensory system is functioning. Abnormal findings may include allodynia (pain from normally harmless stimuli), hyperalgesia (exaggerated response to painful stimuli) or hypoesthesia (reduced sensitivity).

QST is especially useful in diagnosing neuropathic and nociplastic pain conditions, where nerve dysfunction or altered central processing plays a major role. By providing insight into whether the pain pathway is overactive, underactive or misfiring, QST helps physicians select the most appropriate treatment. In research, QST is also used to evaluate the effect of therapies — from medications to interventional procedures — on sensory processing.