title: Tactile sensitivity on the hands skin in rheumatic patients.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Clinical symptoms of rheumatic diseases can cause changes in the level of skin tactile sensitivity.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To determine the tactile threshold of the hands in female patients with rheumatic diseases. It also attempted to determine correlations between rheumatic patients' tactile sensitivity and the degree of articular movement limitations, the Barthel Index (BI) and Edinburgh Handedness Inventory (EHI) results, the level of disability of the right hand and the left hand as well as age, education and eyesight.
  
  
  METHODS
  Ninety-nine female rheumatic patients aged 19-87 years took part in the study. The control group comprised 45 healthy women aged 23-80 years. The measurement of the tactile threshold was performed using the Touch-Test™ Sensory Evaluators (Semmes-Weinstein Monofilaments Test). The tactile threshold was measured at three sites on the hand: the little finger, the index finger and the metacarpus.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The patients' tactile sensitivity ranges were classified as normal, diminished light touch and diminished protective touch. The degree of their disability was correlated with tactile sensitivity. The patients' tactile sensitivity worsens with age, but it is not correlated with the level of education. The lateralization was similar to that of the control group and was not correlated with tactile sensitivity. The worsening eyesight, independent of rheumatic disease, corresponds, however, with decreasing tactile sensitivity.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The patients represented a group with a medium level of functional disability and lower tactile sensitivity.
authors.affiliation: Department of Physiotherapy and Knowledge about Health, The State School of Higher Professional Education, Konin, Poland. Head of Department: Prof. Jacek Lewandowski PhD.
authors.forename: Elżbieta
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Kaluga
authors.affiliation: Department of Rheumatology and Rehabilitation, Poznan University of Medical Sciences, Poznan, Poland. Head of Department: Prof. Włodzimierz Samborski MD, PhD.
authors.forename: Anna
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Kostiukow
authors.affiliation: Department of Rheumatology and Rehabilitation, Poznan University of Medical Sciences, Poznan, Poland. Head of Department: Prof. Włodzimierz Samborski MD, PhD.
authors.forename: Włodzimierz
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Samborski
authors.affiliation: Department of Rheumatology and Rehabilitation, Poznan University of Medical Sciences, Poznan, Poland. Head of Department: Prof. Włodzimierz Samborski MD, PhD.
authors.forename: Elżbieta
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Rostkowska
keywords: esthesiometer (Semmes-Weinstein Monofilaments); rheumatic diseases; skin; tactile threshold; touch
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