Measurements of vibrotactile perception thresholds at the fingertips in Poland.

OBJECTIVES The measurement of vibrotactile perception thresholds (VPTs) at fingertips in workers belongs in Poland among obligatory methods used to diagnose hand-arm vibration syndrome. The aim of the study was to compare vibrotactile perception threshold (VPT) values for healthy subjects using two different types of measuring equipment, i.e. a system designed according to the requirements of the ISO 13091-1 standard and a system that had so far been in use in Poland. MATERIALS AND METHODS 59 men and 22 women aged on average 40.4 years old participated in the study. The VPT measurements were carried out using a new pallesthesiometer P8 (EMSON-MAT, Poland), developed according to the ISO 13091-1 standard and a vibrotactile meter MCW 2K that had so far been used in Poland. Measurements were taken for the index, middle and ring fingers of both hands using the frequencies of 4, 25, 31.5, 63, 125, 250, 400 and 500 Hz for the ISO method and 63, 125, 250, 400 and 500 Hz for the Polish method. RESULTS The mean vibrotactile perception threshold values determined with the ISO 13091-1 method were significantly higher in comparison with the values obtained when the method used in Poland was employed. The differences between vibrotactile threshold levels were almost the same at the compared frequencies. CONCLUSIONS The results of the VPT measurements obtained employing the standard method adopted in Poland may be used in further diagnostic examinations carried out with the ISO 13091-1 method only if an appropriate correction value is calculated in order to determine the difference in the VPT levels at a selected frequency.