OBJECTIVES: This study was performed to find out static two-point discrimination (TPD) in fingertips.
METHODS: This was a cross-section, measure study of static two-point discrimination involving healthy young adults. Measure was completed by 48 college students in Andong Science College from June 1 to 12, 2004. The minimal distance at which two-points could be discriminated was measured from thumb to little finger.
RESULTS: For dermatomal regions of the fingertip, mean values ranged from 3.3mm to 4.9mm (thumb 3.6mm, index finger 3.3mm, middle finger 3.8mm, ring finger 4.2mm, and little finger 4.7mm in the left hand; thumb 3.7mm, index 3.5mm, middle 4.0mm, ring 4.3mm, and little 4.9mm in the right hand). A significant difference in discrimination ability was found between men and women, 3.5mm for women showed a greater sensitivity than 4.1mm for men in the left middle fingertip(p=0.0109), also 3.9mm for women showed a greater accuracy than 4.5mm for men in the left ring fingertip(p=0.0388). In the right index fingertip, women (3.1mm) have a narrow distance than men (3.6mm)(p=0.0329). The minimal distance of TPD was found a significant difference between 20 and 30 years in age. 4mm for 30 years showed a greater distance than 3.5mm for 20 years in the left thumb fingertip(p=0.0354), also, 3.8mm for 30 years showed a greater distance than 3.2mm for 20 years in the left index fingertip(p=0.0174), and 4.3mm for 30 years showed a greater distance than 3.7mm for 20 years in the left middle fingertip(p=0.0444). In the right index fingertip, 20 years (3.2mm) had also a narrow distance than 30 years (4.1mm)(p=0.0020), 20 years (3.9mm) showed a narrow distance than 30 years (4.6mm) in the right middle fingertip(p=0.0124), and 20 years (4.1mm) showed a greater sensitivity than 30 years (5.0mm) in the right ring fingertip(p=0.0070).
CONCLUSIONS: Our results suggest that distance of TPD in the both index fingertips for 20 years women was significantly narrowed.
|