title: A model to assess age-related changes in two-point discrimination of plantar skin.
abstract: A device was constructed to assess two-point discrimination in the plantar skin of younger, middle-aged, and older adults. The device consisted of paired filaments, each delivering a tip force of 4.56 log units (equivalent to 3.63 g), at a fixed distance apart. Statistical analysis showed significant differences in two-point discrimination accuracy between these groups of subjects. Younger subjects showed greater accuracy of plantar two-point discrimination than either middle-aged or older subjects, with an apparent inverse linear relationship between subject age and plantar two-point discrimination ability. A model to assess age-related changes in two-point discrimination is presented.
authors.affiliation: London Foot Hospital, England.
authors.forename: W
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Lynch
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Mooney
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D004192:Discrimination, Psychological; D005260:Female; D005528:Foot / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D008954:Models, Biological; D011032:Podiatry / Q000295:instrumentation; D012879:Skin Physiological Phenomena; D014110:Touch