Two-Point Discrimination for Upper Extremity and Face in Healthy Young Adults: A Cross-Sectional Study.

Publisher: Medknow Publications Country of Publication: India NLM ID: 0042005 Publication Model: Print-Electronic Cited Medium: Internet ISSN: 1998-4022 (Electronic) Linking ISSN: 00283886 NLM ISO Abbreviation: Neurol India Subsets: MEDLINE

Publication: Mumbai : Medknow Publications
Original Publication: Bombay : Neurological Society of India

Upper Extremity* ; Sensory Thresholds*/physiology ; Face*; Humans ; Young Adult ; Adult ; Cross-Sectional Studies ; Male ; Female ; Adolescent ; Touch Perception/physiology ; Touch/physiology ; Healthy Volunteers

Background and Aim: The threshold values of two-point discrimination (TPD) provide a numerical measure of tactile acuity. Normal reference values are needed to decide whether sensory variability is within normal sensorial limits. The study aimed to determine the upper extremity and face threshold values in healthy young adults.
Materials and Methods: Static TPD thresholds of 67 healthy young adults aged 18-35 years were assessed. Eight skin areas in the face and upper extremity on the dominant side were assessed using a "method of limits" approach with an aesthesiometer. Differences between genders were examined with the Mann-Whitney U test. The Spearman correlation analysis investigated the relationship between age and TPD measurements.
Results: TPD values ranged between 4.66 and 19.16 mm and 1.33-68.66 mm in the face and upper extremity, respectively, in the participants with a mean age of 23.83 ± 4.66 years. Fingertips and the area over the lateral mandibula showed the greatest sensitivity. The threshold values of TPD showed both interindividual and intraindividual variability. There was no statistical difference in the TPD values according to gender in any of the measured areas, and there was no relationship between age and TPD test values.
Conclusions: The threshold values of TPD have clinical applicability in various diseases affecting the sensation of the upper extremity and/or face. These data may help the detection of early sensory loss.
(Copyright © 2024 Copyright: © 2024 Neurology India, Neurological Society of India.)

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Date Created: 20240723 Date Completed: 20240723 Latest Revision: 20240723

20250114

10.4103/ni.ni_1286_21

39041970