title: The reliability of assessment of vibration sense.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To assess the reliability of quantitative assessment of vibration sense with a Vibrameter type III.
  
  
  METHODS
  We examined 111 healthy subjects (21-69 years). For intraobserver reliability, short-term (15 min between measurements) (n=11) and 24-h (n=28) reliability was tested. For interobserver reliability, a second tester performed the second measurement 15 min after the initial test (n=39). We also assessed the independent impact of effects of age, gender and height on vibration thresholds.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In our study the intraobserver reliability is good [intraclass correlation coefficients (ICC) ranging from 0.55 to 0.99], whereas the interobserver reliability is moderate (ICC ranging from 0.32 to 0.88). Multiple linear regression analysis showed that age and--to a lesser extent--height was independently associated with the threshold values of the feet, but not with the thresholds of the hands.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The use of a Vibrameter for measuring vibration thresholds in clinical practice and in multicentre studies is restricted because of the moderate interobserver reliability.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, Academic Medical Centre, University of Amsterdam, 1100 DD Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: E W
authors.initials: EW
authors.lastname: Peters
authors.forename: H M E
authors.initials: HM
authors.lastname: Bienfait
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: de Visser
authors.forename: R J
authors.initials: RJ
authors.lastname: de Haan
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D003955:Diagnostic Tests, Routine / Q000295:instrumentation; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010523:Peripheral Nervous System Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000503:physiopathology; D012016:Reference Values; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012677:Sensation / Q000502:physiology; D012684:Sensory Thresholds / Q000502:physiology; D014110:Touch / Q000502:physiology; D014732:Vibration