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S. de Andrade Melo Knaut1, B. Gomes Müller1, B. Gadens da Silva1, F. Fernandes Lemos2, T. Izidoro3, S. Schneiberg4, C. Riedi Daniel1, M. Pegoraro Baroni1
1Universidade Estadual do Centro-Oeste, Physical Therapy, Guarapuava, Brazil, 2Centro Universitário FUNVIC, Physical Therapy, Pindamonhangaba, Brazil, 3Faculdade Inspirar, Physical Therapy, Curitiba, Brazil, 4Universidade Federal de Sergipe, Physical Therapy, Lagarto, Brazil
Background: The 128 Hz tuning fork is the most used tool to evaluate the vibration perception (VP) in clinical and laboratory settings. However, although it is commonly used in the clinic, the normative data for children and teenagers do not present a consensus and the existing literature already exceeds 20 years.
Purpose: To determine the normative data of the duration of vibration perception (VP) with the 128 Hz tuning fork for healthy children and teenagers and to identify the influence of age, gender, weight and dominance in this sensorial modality.
Methods: This is a descriptive, cross-sectional study, approved by the Research Ethics Committee of the Universidade Estadual do Centro-Oeste do Paraná (nº 1.595.251). A convenience sample of healthy subjects aged 6 to 18 years was recruited. The duration of the PV was evaluated individually in a quiet room, with a pleasant temperature (20-22º C). VP was tested on the dorsal of the distal interphalangeal joint of the index finger (hand), in the styloid process of the ulna (wrist), on the dorsal of the interphalangeal joint of the hallux (foot) and in the internal malleolus (ankle). The evaluation was carried out bilaterally. The base of the tuning fork was positioned perpendicular to the area tested at a pressure equal to the weight of the instrument alone. With eyes closed, the assessed individuals were instructed to say "stop," as soon as the sensation of vibration is no longer perceived. Using a chronometer, the VP was considered as the duration in seconds between the initial contact of the tuning fork in the tested area and the end of the vibratory sensation. Each area was tested three times and the average between the three results was considered as the duration (in seconds) of the VP for each site.
Results: Four hundred and four children and teenagers from 6-18 years (247 female, 381 right-handed) participated in the study, with a sample ranging from 28 to 38 participants per age. The analyzes showed a significant difference in the duration of VP values between the tested sites (p<0.000) and age (p<0.000). There was no significant difference between the VP values at wrist (13.4 ± 4.0s) and foot (13.3 ± 5.1s), but independently of age and dominant side, the hand (16.8 ± 6.7s) had the highest VP value and the ankle (10.8 ± 2.7s), the lowest VP value. In general, the highest VP values were observed after the age of 15 years, with the exception of the age of 8 years old that revealed values similar to that of 15 years old, in all side tested. No effect of dominance or weight were observed on the VP values.
Conclusion(s): Establishing normative data for VP duration is of outmost importance, since the 128 Hz tuning is a reliable tool of rapid application and low cost.
Implications: This normative values could be very useful by physicaltherapists since the 128 tuning fork is a very effective method for detecting abnormalities and tracking results objectively over time in children and teenagers with neurological diseases.
Funding, acknowledgements: The author(s) and projetc received no specific funding for this work.
Keywords: Vibration sensitivity, reference values, tuning fork
Topic: Disability & rehabilitation
Did this work require ethics approval? Yes
Institution: Universidade Estadual do Centro-Oeste
Committee: COMEP - Universidade Estadual do Centro-Oeste
Ethics number: 1595251
All authors, affiliations and abstracts have been published as submitted.
