Effect of hand-arm vibration and proximal neuropathy on current perception threshold measurement in the fingers

Authors

  • Ron House Department of Medicine, Division of Occupational Medicine, University of Toronto, Canada
  • Kristine Krajnak Engineering and Control Technology Branch, Health Effects Laboratory Division, National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH), Morgantown, WV, United States
  • Aaron Thompson Department of Medicine, Division of Occupational Medicine, University of Toronto, Canada
  • Depeng Jiang Department of Community Health Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, MB, Canada

Keywords:

Machine vibrations, Current perception, Hand-arm vibration, Medical history, Nerve fibres, On currents, Upper extremity

Abstract

A study was carried out to determine if hand-arm vibration exposure is associated with current perception threshold (CPT) measurement in the fingers after controlling for neuropathy proximal to the hand measured by nerve conduction testing. All of the 165 participants had a detailed occupational and medical history and physical examination to ensure that no other conditions were present that might affect sensation in the hands. All of the participants had nerve conduction tests and measurement of CPT in each hand. The results show that 48 participants have median neuropathy on the right upper extremity and 30 on the left and 10 had ulnar neuropathy on the right side and 8 on the left. It is therefore found that despite the high prevalence of proximal neumpathy in workers exposed to hand-arm vibration, there is an effect on nerve fibre damage in the fingers due to hand-arm vibration that cannot be explained by common median or ulnar neuropathies proximal to the hand.

Additional Files

Published

2011-06-01

How to Cite

1.
House R, Krajnak K, Thompson A, Jiang D. Effect of hand-arm vibration and proximal neuropathy on current perception threshold measurement in the fingers. Canadian Acoustics [Internet]. 2011 Jun. 1 [cited 2024 Mar. 28];39(2):68-9. Available from: https://jcaa.caa-aca.ca/index.php/jcaa/article/view/2361

Issue

Section

Proceedings of the Acoustics Week in Canada