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The present study compared two point discrimination in the dominant and non-dominant i.e. right and left sides of an individual in order to investigate the existence of any intra-individual differences in sensory perception A total of 100 healthy adults aged between 20 & 50 years were selected and two point discrimination was assessed using baseline aesthesiometer. 8 skin areas were assessed, areas being: a) mid-lateral forearm, b) mid-medial forearm, c)palmar surface of distal phalanx of thumb, d) palmar surface of distal phalanx of long finger, e) medial leg, f) distal lateral leg, g) tip of great toe, h) over 5th metatarsal space. The results demonstrated that tactile sensibility varies in different areas of body in an individual. It was also found that two point discrimination values differ in dominant and non-dominant limbs in healthy adults. Conclusion: Intraindividual differences exist when dominance is taken as criterion.
Keywords: two point discrimination, dominance, sensory assessment
Cutaneous sensory assessment is an integral part of the general physical as well as neurological examination (Nolan, 1982) and the assessment of two point discrimination is a frequent component of this neurological examination (Nolan, 1985). Sensory testing is particularly important in evaluation of normal individuals as well as patients sustaining injury to peripheral nerves. In these patients, the ability to perceive temperature, pressure, light touch and vibration is commonly tested. With respect to light touch, the examination consists of an assessment of the patienf s ability to distinguish between two, non-noxious, light touch stimuli applied simultan-eously to adjacent areas of skin (Nolan, 1982). The functional significance of cutaneous sensibility of hand and foot is well recognized, both by the patient who has suffered the loss of sensation and by the medical staff concerned with rehabilitation (Werner & Omer, 1970).
Two point discrimination is used to assess the integrity of posterior column medial lemniscus system of spinal cord & analogous pathways related to cranial nerves (Nolan, 1985) and can obviously be influenced by lesions elsewhere. The disturbances in two point discrimination ability commonly occurs in patients sustaining traumatic injuries to hand and upper extremity, (2,9,12) peripheral nerve compression syndromes, ( 5,29) in patients with dysesthetic pain in spinal cord injuries (Smita et al., 2011) and in chronic low back pain cases (Peters &...