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The reliability of assessment of vibration sense
Author(s) -
Peters E. W.,
Bienfait H. M. E.,
De Visser M.,
De Haan R. J.
Publication year - 2003
Publication title -
acta neurologica scandinavica
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.967
H-Index - 95
eISSN - 1600-0404
pISSN - 0001-6314
DOI - 10.1034/j.1600-0404.2003.01333.x
Subject(s) - intraclass correlation , reliability (semiconductor) , medicine , clinical practice , mathematics , statistics , physical therapy , reproducibility , physics , power (physics) , quantum mechanics
Objectives – To assess the reliability of quantitative assessment of vibration sense with a Vibrameter type III. Material and methods – We examined 111 healthy subjects (21–69 years). For intraobserver reliability, short‐term (15 min between measurements) ( n =11) and 24‐h ( n =28) reliability was tested. For interobserver reliability, a second tester performed the second measurement 15 min after the initial test ( n =39). We also assessed the independent impact of effects of age, gender and height on vibration thresholds. Results – In our study the intraobserver reliability is good [intraclass correlation coefficients (ICC) ranging from 0.55 to 0.99], whereas the interobserver reliability is moderate (ICC ranging from 0.32 to 0.88). Multiple linear regression analysis showed that age and – to a lesser extent height was independently associated with the threshold values of the feet, but not with the thresholds of the hands. Conclusion – The use of a Vibrameter for measuring vibration thresholds in clinical practice and in multicentre studies is restricted because of the moderate interobserver reliability.