title: Temperature effects on vibrotactile sensitivity threshold measurements: implications for carpal tunnel screening tests.
abstract: This study examines the effect of skin temperature on fingertip vibrotactile sensitivity measurements and the resulting implications for carpal tunnel syndrome screening tests. Twenty subjects (11 men, 9 women) were tested for fingertip vibrotactile thresholds using the method of limits at four different frequencies (31.5, 125, 250, and 500 Hz) and six temperature categories (17 degrees-20 degrees C, 20 degrees-23 degrees C, 23 degrees-26 degrees C, 26 degrees-29 degrees C, 29 degrees-32 degrees C, 32 degrees-35 degrees C). Vibrotactile sensitivity thresholds increased with decreasing fingertip skin temperature. Furthermore, the relationship was a function of vibration frequency. Higher frequencies were more affected by temperature than lower frequencies, with significant effects beginning at 29 degrees C. These temperature-related effects may lead to possible false positive results in screening for carpal tunnel syndrome or other neuropathies. To minimize potential temperature-induced misclassification errors during these screening tests, fingertip skin temperature should be recorded before measurement and probably maintained above 29 degrees C during the measurement.
authors.affiliation: Ergonomics Branch, Armstrong Laboratory, Brooks Air Force Base, TX, USA.
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Klinenberg
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: So
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Rempel
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D002349:Carpal Tunnel Syndrome / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000503:physiopathology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012684:Sensory Thresholds / Q000502:physiology*; D012881:Skin Temperature / Q000502:physiology*; D014110:Touch / Q000502:physiology*; D014732:Vibration