Effect of hand transmitted vibration on fingertip thermotactile perception threshold in grinding workers
10.20001/j.issn.2095-2619.20251010
- VernacularTitle:手传振动对打磨工指端温度觉阈值的影响
- Author:
Danying ZHANG
1
;
Maosheng YAN
;
Hansheng LIN
;
Sizhi CHEN
;
Xuemei SONG
;
Bin XIAO
;
Hua YAN
;
Guoyong XU
;
Zhipeng HE
Author Information
1. Guangdong Province Hospital for Occupational Disease Prevention and Treatment, Guangzhou, Guangdong 510300, China
- Publication Type:Journal Article
- Keywords:
Hand transmitted vibration;
Grinding;
Finger;
Thermotactile perception;
Threshold;
Nerve injury;
Worker
- From:
China Occupational Medicine
2025;52(5):540-544
- CountryChina
- Language:Chinese
-
Abstract:
Objective To analyze the effect of hand transmitted vibration on fingertip thermotactile perception threshold (TPT) among grinding workers in a sports equipment manufacturing enterprise. Methods A total of 151 male grinding workers from a sports equipment manufacturing enterprise in Guangdong Province were enrolled in the vibration exposure group, and 51 male workers without hand-transmitted vibration exposure were enrolled in the control group, using the judgment sampling method. Basic health conditions of the workers were surveyed in both groups. The TPTs of the distal phalanges of the index and little fingers on both hands were tested using an HVLab thermal perception tester. Results The detection rates of finger numbness and tingling among workers in the vibration exposure group were higher than those in the control group (92.1% vs 7.8% and 59.6% vs 0.0%, respectively, both P<0.01). The detection rates of numbness or tingling of different fingers in the vibration exposure group descended in the following order: index finger, middle finger, ring finger, thumb and little finger. The hot threshold of the index finger and little finger increased (all P<0.01), while the cold threshold decreased (all P<0.01) in the vibration exposure group, compared with the control group. The results of generalized linear regression analysis showed that with the increase of the duration of hand-transmitted vibration, the hot threshold of the index finger and the little finger of both hands increased (all P<0.01), and the cold threshold decreased (all P<0.01). The hot thresholds of workers with numbness of both the index fingers and left little finger were higher than those of workers without numbness of the same finger (all P<0.05). The hot threshold of workers with tingling of the left index finger was higher than those without tingling (P<0.05). The cold thresholds of workers with tingling of the both index fingers and left little finger were lower than those without tingling of the same finger (all P<0.05). The hot threshold of the right little finger increased with age (P<0.01), while the cold thresholds of both little fingers decreased with age (all P<0.01). Conclusion Hand-transmitted vibration exposure increases fingertip hot threshold and decreases fingertip cold threshold of workers exposed to hand-transmitted vibration. Years of service in hand-transmitted vibration work, finger numbness or tingling, and age were influencing factors of TPT. Fingertip TPT examination can be used to assist in the early detection of vibration-induced nerve injury in workers exposed to hand-transmitted vibration.
