DIFFERENCE IN SENSIBILITY BETWEEN THE DOMINANT AND NONDOMINANT INDEX FINGER AS TESTED USING THE SEMMES-WEINSTEIN MONOFILAMENTS PRESSURE AESTHESIOMETER

In 130 active subjects aged 7 to 76 years, sensibility of both index f ingers were tested using Semmes-Weinstein monofilaments. Subsequently, subjects were asked to indicate their dominant side. The gathered dat a was analysed statistically to try and find a possible difference in sensibility between the dominant and nondominant side. No difference w as found in the majority of our series (76). The index at the nondomin ant side was found to have superior sensibility in 35 out of 130 subje cts, while the reverse was true in the remaining subjects (19). In cas e there is a difference in sensibility between the two hands, the less sensitive side shows 'normal' distribution of light touch thresholds, whereas at the more sensitive side these thresholds usually scored on e nylon rod marker lower.