nach oben

International Archives of Occupational and Environmental Health

Erschienen in:

01.04.2008 | Original Article

Normal values for thermotactile and vibrotactile thresholds in males and females

verfasst von: Sue Ann Seah, Michael J. Griffin

Erschienen in: International Archives of Occupational and Environmental Health | Ausgabe 5/2008

Einloggen, um Zugang zu erhalten

Abstract

Objectives

This study was undertaken to compare normal values of thermotactile and vibrotactile thresholds in males and females and in younger and older age groups. In addition, for thermal thresholds, the effects of the contact area (small and large) and stimulus location (glabrous and non-glabrous skin) were investigated.

Method

Eighty healthy subjects participated in the study: 20 males and 20 females aged 20–30 years, and 20 males and 20 females aged 55–65 years. Subjects attended one 45 min experimental session consisting of acclimatisation for 10 min followed by 35 min of testing. Using the method of limits, hot thresholds and cold thresholds were measured on the non-dominant upper limb at three locations (the distal phalanx of the middle finger, the thenar eminence, and the dorsal surface of the forearm) using two circular contactors 1.0 and 2.8 cm in diameter. Using the von Békésy method, vibrotactile thresholds at 31.5 and 125 Hz were measured on the distal phalanx of the middle finger of the non-dominant hand.

Results

Among the younger subjects there were significant gender differences in thermotactile thresholds but not vibrotactile thresholds. Age did not have any significant effect on thermotactile or vibrotactile thresholds. Hot thresholds were significantly higher and cold thresholds significantly lower when the larger stimulus area was used. The thresholds exceeded by 18% of the population (the mean plus one standard deviation) and by 2.5% (the mean plus two standard deviations) are provided and may be used to consider whether measured thresholds are within a “normal” range.

Conclusions

For males and females the same ranges of normal values may be used for vibrotactile thresholds but different ranges of normal values may be required for thermotactile thresholds. An age correction may not be needed for thermotactile or vibrotactile thresholds in persons aged 20–65 years. Contact area has an influence on thermotactile thresholds and should be controlled.

Bartlett G, Stewart JD, Tamblyn R, Abrahamowicz M (1998) Normal distributions of thermal and vibration sensory thresholds. Muscle Nerve 21(3):367–374PubMedCrossRef

Doeland HJ, Nauta JJP, van Zandbergen JB, van der Eerden HAM, van Diemen NGJ, Bertelsmann FW, Heimans JJ (1989) The relationship of cold and warmth cutaneous sensation to age and gender. Muscle Nerve 12:712–715PubMedCrossRef

Ekenvall L, Nilsson BY, Gustavsson P (1986) Temperature and vibration thresholds in vibration syndrome. Br J Med 43(12):825–829

Gescheider G, Bolanowski SJ, Hall KL, Hoffman KE, Verrillo RT (1994) The effects of aging on information-processing channels in the sense of touch: I. Absolute sensitivity. J Somatosens Mot Res 11(4):345–357CrossRef

Hardy JD, Oppel TW (1937) Studies in temperature sensation: III. The sensitivity of the body to heat and spatial summation of the end-organ responses. J Clin Invest 16:533–540PubMedCrossRef

Harju E (2002) Cold and warmth perception mapped for age, gender and body area. J Somatosens Mot Res 19(1):61–75CrossRef

Hilz MJ, Axelrod FB, Hermann K, Haertl U, Duetsch M, Neundörfer B (1998) Normative values of vibratory perception in 530 children, juveniles and adults aged 3–79 years. J Neurol Sci 159(2):219–225PubMedCrossRef

International Organization for Standardization (2001) Mechanical vibration—vibrotactile perception thresholds for the assessment of nerve dysfunction—part 1: Methods of measurement at the fingertips. International Standard, ISO13091-1

Kojo I, Pertovaara A (1987) The effects of stimulus area and adaptation temperature on warm and heat pain thresholds in man. Int J Neurosci 32:875–880PubMedCrossRef

Lindsell CJ, Griffin MJ (2002) Normative data for vascular and neurological tests of the hand–arm vibration syndrome. Int Arch Occup Environ Health, 75(1–2):43–54PubMed

Lindsell CJ, Griffin MJ (1998) Standardised diagnostic methods for assessing components of the hand–arm vibration syndrome, HSE Books, CRR197/1998, ISBN 0 7176 1640 1

Liou J-T, Lui P-W, Lo Y-L, Liou L, Wang S-S, Yuan H-B, Chan K-C, Lee T-Y (1999) Normative data of quantitative thermal and vibratory thresholds in normal subjects in Taiwan: gender and age effect. Chin Med J 62(7):431–437

Stevens JC, Marks LE (1971) Spatial summation and the dynamics of the warmth sense. Percept Psychophys 9:391–398

Verrillo RT, Bolanowski SJ, Gescheider GA (2002) Effect of aging on the subjective magnitude of vibration. Somatosens Mot Res 19:238–244PubMedCrossRef

Welsh, AJL, Griffin MJ (2007) Normal values for finger systolic blood pressures in males and females. Int Arch Occup Environ Health. doi:10.1007/s00420-007-0257-1

Wild P, Massin N, Lasfargues G, Baudin V, Unlu D, Donati P (2001) Vibrotactile perception thresholds in four non-exposed populations of working age. J Ergon 44(6):649–657CrossRef

Titel: Normal values for thermotactile and vibrotactile thresholds in males and females
verfasst von: Sue Ann Seah
Michael J. Griffin
Publikationsdatum: 01.04.2008
Verlag: Springer-Verlag
Erschienen in: International Archives of Occupational and Environmental Health / Ausgabe 5/2008
Print ISSN: 0340-0131
Elektronische ISSN: 1432-1246
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00420-007-0252-6

Live-Webinar "Urologie und Sexualmedizin in der Praxis"

Springer Medizin

Normal values for thermotactile and vibrotactile thresholds in males and females

Abstract

Objectives

Method

Results

Conclusions

Live-Webinar "Urologie und Sexualmedizin in der Praxis"

Springer Medizin

Abstract

Objectives

Method

Results

Conclusions

Bitte loggen Sie sich ein, um Zugang zu diesem Inhalt zu erhalten

Weitere Artikel der Ausgabe 5/2008

Use of color charts for the diagnosis of finger whiteness in vibration-exposed workers

Musculoskeletal symptoms among young male workers and associations with exposure to hand–arm vibration and ergonomic stressors

Diagnosing soft tissue rheumatic disorders of the upper limb in epidemiological studies of vibration-exposed populations

A longitudinal study of finger systolic blood pressure and exposure to hand-transmitted vibration

Thermal perception thresholds among young adults exposed to hand-transmitted vibration

Diagnosis of vascular injuries caused by hand-transmitted vibration