Schulz L A, Bohannon R W, Morgan W J
Department of Hand Therapy, University of Massachusetts Medical Center, Worcester 01655, USA.
J Hand Ther. 1998 Jul-Sep;11(3):200-5. doi: 10.1016/s0894-1130(98)80038-0.
The Weinstein Enhanced Sensory Test (WEST) is performed using a calibrated monofilament esthesiometer. This study was designed to establish normal values for the WEST when testing digit tip sensibility and to assess whether factors such as age, gender, and side affect normal WEST values. In order to establish normal values, the WEST was performed on 120 subjects who had no clinical evidence of peripheral neuropathy or subjective changes in digit tip sensation. Subjects also completed a questionnaire and underwent neurometric testing of the median nerve and a brief clinical examination. The results of the study indicate that age had a significant effect on WEST values (p = 0.0002) and that there was an interaction effect for age and gender (p = 0.018). There are strong correlations between the WEST values for individual digits for a given subject and between WEST and electroneurometer values. Normal values for the WEST should be interpreted with regard to age and gender. These normal values (defined as the values for 80% of the population of each category) based on the sample used for this study are as follows: for men and women 55 years of age or younger, 0.035 g; for women older than 55 years, 0.15 g; for men older than 55 years, 0.385 g.
