A new principle for assessing vibrotactile sense in vibration-induced neuropathy

Scand J Work Environ Health. 1987 Aug;13(4):375-9. doi: 10.5271/sjweh.2026.

Abstract

The vibrotactile perception threshold has been evaluated in 20 manual workers not exposed to occupational vibration and in 27 workers using hand-held vibrating tools. Threshold values were evaluated with a Békesy type of vibrometer at frequencies ranging from 8 to 500 Hz. The earliest sign of vibration lesion was a reduction of sensation at frequencies of 125 to 250 Hz, indicating dysfunction in receptors of the fast adapting type II (stage 1 curve), followed in more severe cases by a prominent loss of sensation at all frequencies higher than 65 Hz (stage 2 curve). The stage 3 curve indicated the most severe loss of sensation in which the function of slowly adapting type I receptors, as well as fast adapting type I receptors, was deteriorated; consequently the vibrotactile thresholds at low-, median-, and high-frequency ranges were impaired. The vibrotactile changes corresponded well to numbness and the presence of vibration-induced white finger.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Adult
  • Fingers / innervation*
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Nervous System Diseases / diagnosis
  • Nervous System Diseases / etiology
  • Occupational Diseases / diagnosis
  • Occupational Diseases / etiology*
  • Perception
  • Sensory Thresholds*
  • Vibration / adverse effects*