title: Association between a quantitative measure of tactile acuity and hand symptoms reported by operators of power tools.
abstract: An association between a quantitative measure of tactile acuity at the fingertips and symptoms of reduced manipulative function, as established by responses to a questionnaire, was demonstrated in a population of 81 manual workers from the mining industry (62 power-tool operators and 19 nonusers). Mechanoreceptor-specific vibrotactile thresholds were determined for the slowly adapting type I (SAI) and fast-adapting types I and II (FAI and FAII) receptors at the fingertip of the third digit of each hand. Statistically significant threshold shifts in SAI and/or FAII acuity were found in persons responding affirmatively to questions concerning finger/hand numbness, blanching, and difficulty buttoning clothing. The best predictors of a quantitative change in tactile acuity were questions relating to difficulty manipulating small objects and buttoning clothing, yielding positive predictive values of from 90% to 100% and false positive rates of from 0% to 2.8%. The demonstration of an association between a quantitative measure of tactile acuity at the fingertips and some symptom reports, obtained by means of a questionnaire, provides the basis for the development of a screening procedure for persons at risk of such disturbances in hand function.
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Ottawa, Ontario, Canada.
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Coutu-Wakulczyk
authors.forename: A J
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Brammer
authors.forename: J E
authors.initials: JE
authors.lastname: Piercy
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D018130:Diamond; D005385:Fingers / Q000294:innervation*; D006046:Gold; D006225:Hand / Q000294:innervation*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008465:Mechanoreceptors / Q000503:physiopathology; D008875:Middle Aged; D008906:Mining; D009048:Motor Skills / Q000502:physiology; D009460:Neurologic Examination; D009784:Occupational Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000503:physiopathology; D010292:Paresthesia / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000503:physiopathology; D010523:Peripheral Nervous System Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000503:physiopathology; D011596:Psychomotor Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000503:physiopathology; D012684:Sensory Thresholds / Q000502:physiology; D014110:Touch / Q000502:physiology*; D014732:Vibration / Q000009:adverse effects*
chemical_list: D006046:Gold; D018130:Diamond