Test-retest and inter-rater reliability of two devices measuring tactile mechanical detection thresholds in healthy adults: Semmes-Weinstein monofilaments and the cutaneous mechanical stimulator.
Muscle Nerve
; 2024 Sep 19.
Article
em En
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-39295499
ABSTRACT
INTRODUCTION/AIMS:
Limitations exist in evaluating mechanical detection thresholds (MDTs) due to a lack of dependable electronic instruments designed to assess Aß fibers and measure MDTs across different body areas. This study aims to evaluate the test-retest and inter-rater reliability of the cutaneous mechanical stimulator (CMS), an electronic tactile stimulator, in quantifying MDTs.METHODS:
Using a test-retest design, participants underwent assessments of MDTs using Semmes-Weinstein monofilaments (SWM) and the CMS. This study included 27 healthy volunteers (mean age 24.07 ± 3.76 years). Two raters assessed MDTs using SWM and the CMS at two stimulation sites (the left hand and foot) in two experimental sessions approximately 2 weeks apart.RESULTS:
MDTs using SWM and the CMS showed excellent reliability on the hand (intraclass correlation coefficient [ICC] = .84) and foot (ICC = .90). A comparison of results obtained at the two sessions showed that MDTs on the hand displayed good reliability for both SWM (ICC = .63) and the CMS (ICC = .73), whereas MDTs on the foot displayed fair reliability for SWM (ICC = .50) and the CMS (ICC = .42). MDTs exhibited good inter-rater reliability with SWM (ICC = .66) and excellent inter-rater reliability with the CMS (ICC = .82) on the hand, as well as showing fair inter-rater reliability with SWM (ICC = .53) and good inter-rater reliability with the CMS (ICC = .60) on the foot.DISCUSSION:
The CMS showed superior inter-rater reliability, indicating its potential as a valuable tool for assessing tactile sensitivity in research and clinical settings.
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Base de dados:
MEDLINE
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En
Ano de publicação:
2024
Tipo de documento:
Article