The bioesthesiometer is an instrument designed to measure vibration perception threshold (VPT). Initially designed to measure vibration to aid in diagnosis of peripheral neuropathy in persons with diabetes mellitus.
1
5-10 minutes
Child
6 - 12
yearsAdolescent
13 - 17
yearsInitially reviewed by Gail L. Widener and the MS task force of the neurology section of the APTA in 2011.
Recommendations for use of the instrument from the Neurology Section of the American Physical Therapy Association’s Multiple Sclerosis Taskforce (MSEDGE), Parkinson’s Taskforce (PD EDGE), Spinal Cord Injury Taskforce (PD EDGE), Stroke Taskforce (StrokEDGE), Traumatic Brain Injury Taskforce (TBI EDGE), and Vestibular Taskforce (Vestibular EDGE) are listed below. These recommendations were developed by a panel of research and clinical experts using a modified Delphi process.
For detailed information about how recommendations were made, please visit:
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Abbreviations: |
|
|
HR |
Highly Recommend |
|
R |
Recommend |
|
LS / UR |
Reasonable to use, but limited study in target group / Unable to Recommend |
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NR |
Not Recommended |
Recommendations based on level of care in which the assessment is taken:
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Acute Care |
Inpatient Rehabilitation |
Skilled Nursing Facility |
Outpatient Rehabilitation |
Home Health |
|
MS EDGE |
UR |
UR |
UR |
UR |
UR |
Recommendations based on EDSS Classification:
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EDSS 0.0 – 3.5 |
EDSS 4.0 – 5.5 |
EDSS 6.0 – 7.5 |
EDSS 8.0 – 9.5 |
|
MS EDGE |
UR |
UR |
UR |
UR |
Recommendations for entry-level physical therapy education and use in research:
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Students should learn to administer this tool? (Y/N) |
Students should be exposed to tool? (Y/N) |
Appropriate for use in intervention research studies? (Y/N) |
Is additional research warranted for this tool (Y/N) |
|
MS EDGE |
No |
No |
No |
Yes |
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Multiple Sclerosis:
(Bloom et al, 1984; n = 519 non-diabetic individuals ages from 10-90)
Multiple Sclerosis:
(Miranda-Palmer et al, 2005; n = 80 people with MS)
Multiple Sclerosis:
(Leocani et al, 2003)
Multiple Sclerosis:
(Miranda-Palma et al, 2005)
Bloom, S., Till, S., et al. (1984). "Use of a biothesiometer to measure individual vibration thresholds and their variation in 519 non-diabetic subjects." British medical journal (Clinical research ed.) 288(6433): 1793-1795.
Bove, F. J., Letz, R., et al. (1989). "Sensory thresholds among construction trade painters: a cross-sectional study using new methods for measuring temperature and vibration sensitivity." J. OCCUP. MED. 31(4): 320-325.
Citaker, S., Gunduz, A. G., et al. (2011). "Relationship between foot sensation and standing balance in patients with multiple sclerosis." Gait & Posture.
Frenette, B., Mergler, D., et al. (1990). "Measurement precision of a portable instrument to assess vibrotactile perception threshold." Eur J Appl Physiol Occup Physiol 61(5-6): 386-391.
Kakigi, R., Kuroda, Y., et al. (1992). "Physiological study of the spinothalamic tract conduction in multiple sclerosis." J Neurol Sci 107(2): 205-209.
Leocani, L., Martinelli, V., et al. (2003). "Somatosensory evoked potentials and sensory involvement in multiple sclerosis: comparison with clinical findings and quantitative sensory tests." Mult Scler 9(3): 275-279.
Miranda-Palma, B., Sosenko, J. M., et al. (2005). "A comparison of the monofilament with other testing modalities for foot ulcer susceptibility." Diabetes Res Clin Pract 70(1): 8-12.
Newsome, S. D., Wang, J. I., et al. (2011). "Quantitative measures detect sensory and motor impairments in multiple sclerosis." J Neurol Sci 305(1-2): 103-111.
van Deursen, R. W., Sanchez, M. M., et al. (2001). "Vibration perception threshold testing in patients with diabetic neuropathy: ceiling effects and reliability." Diabet Med 18(6): 469-475.
Zackowski, K. M., Smith, S. A., et al. (2009). "Sensorimotor dysfunction in multiple sclerosis and column-specific magnetization transfer-imaging abnormalities in the spinal cord." Brain 132(Pt 5): 1200-1209.
We have reviewed more than 500 instruments for use with a number of diagnoses including stroke, spinal cord injury and traumatic brain injury among several others.