Reference values of vibrotactile perception thresholds at the fingertips for women

Harazin, B.; Kuprowski, J.; Harazin-Lechowska, A.; Socholik, V.

Affiliations

¹Occupational Health Protection Unit, Faculty of Public Health, Medical University of Silesia, 18 Medykow str, 40-752 Katowice, Poland

²MEDICUS Diagnostic-Therapeutic Centre, Outpatient Clinic of Occupational Medicine, 8 Lesna str, 59-300 Lubin, Poland

³Regional Center of Occupational Medicine, 42 Warszawska str, 40-008 Katowice, Poland

Abstract

Objectives: The measurement of vibrotactile perception thresholds (VPTs) at the fingertips in workers is one of the diagnostic methods of hand-arm vibration syndrome. The aim of the study was to determine reference VPT values for healthy women using measuring systems designed according to the requirements of the ISO 13091-1 standard.

Materials and Methods: The study covered 140 healthy women aged 19-55 years. The VPT measurements were carried out using a new vibrotactile meter of the P8 type (EMSON-MAT, Poland), developed according to the ISO 13091-1 standard. Measurements were taken for the index, middle and ring fingers of both hands at the frequencies of: 4 Hz, 25 Hz, 31.5 Hz, 63 Hz, 125 Hz and 250 Hz. Predicted values of vibrotactile perception thresholds for 30-year old women were obtained by linear regression analysis of threshold data.

Results: It was observed that values of perception thresholds increased from about 85 dB to 115 dB (re 10 -6 ms -2 ) as a function of frequency and age. The frequency-dependent changes were not linear, however, but displayed a constant sensitivity in the range of 25 Hz -125 Hz. The VPT values were found to slightly increase with age.

Conclusions: The current data can be useful in determining normative VPT values for the assessment of peripheral neuropathy in women. In view of the fact that the ISO 13091-1 standard contains several VPT measurement methods, a possibility should be considered of preparing the normative values for each method.

Cited Works (1)

Year	Entry
1998	Bovenzi M. Exposure-response relationship in the hand-arm vibration syndrome: an overview of current epidemiology research. Int Arch Occup Environ Health. November 1998;71(8):509-519.