Statements in which the resource exists as a subject.
PredicateObject
rdf:type
lifeskim:mentions
pubmed:issue
2
pubmed:dateCreated
1995-4-14
pubmed:abstractText
While manual palpation is the most important method for evaluation of tender myofascial tissues, it lacks reliability. Therefore, we have developed an instrument, called a 'palpometer', which allows the measurement of pressure exerted during palpation. The palpometer consists of a thin pressure-sensitive plastic device attached to the palpating finger, and of a scale recording the pressure applied to the device. Known forces were applied to the pressure sensitive device under various experimental conditions and the corresponding values were read on the palpometer scale. Then 14 observers, blinded to the palpometer scale, palpated the temporal muscle on the same subject twice, with an interval of 1 week. A highly significant correlation was found between palpometer recordings and forces applied to the pressure-sensitive device (P < 0.0001). Exerted force at a given palpometer value varied 3.1% within and 7.2% between 2 observers. During palpation of the temporal muscle pressure intensities within the 14 observers did not differ significantly from week to week (P = 0.68). Between the 14 observers pressure intensities varied considerably with a range of 73.5-196 arbitrary units. Thus, a reliable instrument for measuring pressure intensities during palpation of myofascial tissue has been developed. The large variation in palpation pressures between observers indicates that palpation of tender myofascial tissue may be considerably improved by use of the palpometer. This instrument will be indispensable in research studies employing palpation and in the training of physicians to diagnose myofascial pain disorders.
pubmed:commentsCorrections
pubmed:language
eng
pubmed:journal
pubmed:citationSubset
IM
pubmed:status
MEDLINE
pubmed:month
Nov
pubmed:issn
0304-3959
pubmed:author
pubmed:issnType
Print
pubmed:volume
59
pubmed:owner
NLM
pubmed:authorsComplete
Y
pubmed:pagination
235-9
pubmed:dateRevised
2006-11-15
pubmed:meshHeading
pubmed:year
1994
pubmed:articleTitle
Muscle palpation with controlled finger pressure: new equipment for the study of tender myofascial tissues.
pubmed:affiliation
Department of Neurology, Glostrup Hospital, University of Copenhagen, Denmark.
pubmed:publicationType
Journal Article, Clinical Trial, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't