Electrical perceptual threshold testing: A validation study

Leong, GWS; Gorrie, CA; Ng, K; Rutkowski, S; Waite, PME

Electrical perceptual threshold testing: A validation study

Leong, GWS Gorrie, CA

Ng, K Rutkowski, S Waite, PME

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Publication Type:: Journal Article
Citation:: Journal of Spinal Cord Medicine, 2009, 32 (2), pp. 140 - 146
Issue Date:: 2009-01-01

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Field	Value	Language
dc.contributor.author	Leong, GWS	en_US
dc.contributor.author	Gorrie, CA https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5934-2492	en_US
dc.contributor.author	Ng, K	en_US
dc.contributor.author	Rutkowski, S	en_US
dc.contributor.author	Waite, PME	en_US
dc.date.issued	2009-01-01	en_US
dc.identifier.citation	Journal of Spinal Cord Medicine, 2009, 32 (2), pp. 140 - 146	en_US
dc.identifier.issn	1079-0268	en_US
dc.identifier.uri	http://hdl.handle.net/10453/15598
dc.description.abstract	Background/Objective: To investigate inter-rater and intra-rater reliability of electrical perceptual threshold (EPT) testing in assessing somatosensory function in healthy volunteers. Study Design: Prospective experimental. Setting: Hospital-based spinal cord injuries unit. Methods: Cutaneous electrical stimulation of 4 dermatomes at ASIA sensory key points (C3, T1, L3, and S2) was performed on 40 control subjects. The lowest ascending stimulus intensity at which sensation was perceived was recorded as the EPT. Mean EPT values for each dermatome, as determined by 2 testers at 2 time points, were examined and plotted against a normative template. Differences and associations between intra- and inter-rater measurements and left-right measurements were studied. EPT results for 2 people with spinal cord injuries were also examined. Results: EPT measurements from left and right sides, obtained from the 2 time points and 2 testers, were found to be strongly associated, with the exception of left and right side measurements at the S2 dermatome. No significant differences in the mean EPT for tester or time period were found. The intra- and inter-rater reliability was good for all dermatomes tested. Mean EPT measurements fell within the range of a normative template at each of the 4 dermatomes tested. Conclusion: EPT is an objective, reproducible, and quantifiable method of assessing sensation in a control group. However, caution should be applied in certain dermatomes such as S2, where there was large variation between left and right side measurements. © 2009 by the American Paraplegia Society.	en_US
dc.relation.ispartof	Journal of Spinal Cord Medicine	en_US
dc.relation.isbasedon	10.1080/10790268.2009.11760765	en_US
dc.subject.classification	Rehabilitation	en_US
dc.subject.mesh	Afferent Pathways	en_US
dc.subject.mesh	Skin	en_US
dc.subject.mesh	Humans	en_US
dc.subject.mesh	Quadriplegia	en_US
dc.subject.mesh	Sensitivity and Specificity	en_US
dc.subject.mesh	Retrospective Studies	en_US
dc.subject.mesh	Reproducibility of Results	en_US
dc.subject.mesh	Electric Stimulation	en_US
dc.subject.mesh	Sensory Thresholds	en_US
dc.subject.mesh	Biophysics	en_US
dc.subject.mesh	Adult	en_US
dc.subject.mesh	Middle Aged	en_US
dc.subject.mesh	Female	en_US
dc.subject.mesh	Male	en_US
dc.subject.mesh	Functional Laterality	en_US
dc.subject.mesh	Skin Physiological Phenomena	en_US
dc.subject.mesh	Young Adult	en_US
dc.title	Electrical perceptual threshold testing: A validation study	en_US
dc.type	Journal Article
utslib.citation.volume	2	en_US
utslib.citation.volume	32	en_US
utslib.for	1103 Clinical Sciences	en_US
utslib.for	1106 Human Movement and Sports Sciences	en_US
dc.location.activity	ISI:000265913000006	en_US
pubs.embargo.period	Not known	en_US
pubs.organisational-group	/University of Technology Sydney
pubs.organisational-group	/University of Technology Sydney/Faculty of Science
pubs.organisational-group	/University of Technology Sydney/Faculty of Science/School of Life Sciences
pubs.organisational-group	/University of Technology Sydney/Strength - CHT - Health Technologies
utslib.copyright.status	closed_access
pubs.issue	2	en_US
pubs.publication-status	Published	en_US
pubs.volume	32	en_US

Abstract:

Background/Objective: To investigate inter-rater and intra-rater reliability of electrical perceptual threshold (EPT) testing in assessing somatosensory function in healthy volunteers. Study Design: Prospective experimental. Setting: Hospital-based spinal cord injuries unit. Methods: Cutaneous electrical stimulation of 4 dermatomes at ASIA sensory key points (C3, T1, L3, and S2) was performed on 40 control subjects. The lowest ascending stimulus intensity at which sensation was perceived was recorded as the EPT. Mean EPT values for each dermatome, as determined by 2 testers at 2 time points, were examined and plotted against a normative template. Differences and associations between intra- and inter-rater measurements and left-right measurements were studied. EPT results for 2 people with spinal cord injuries were also examined. Results: EPT measurements from left and right sides, obtained from the 2 time points and 2 testers, were found to be strongly associated, with the exception of left and right side measurements at the S2 dermatome. No significant differences in the mean EPT for tester or time period were found. The intra- and inter-rater reliability was good for all dermatomes tested. Mean EPT measurements fell within the range of a normative template at each of the 4 dermatomes tested. Conclusion: EPT is an objective, reproducible, and quantifiable method of assessing sensation in a control group. However, caution should be applied in certain dermatomes such as S2, where there was large variation between left and right side measurements. © 2009 by the American Paraplegia Society.

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http://hdl.handle.net/10453/15598