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. 2018 May;26(2):97-101.
doi: 10.1080/10669817.2018.1427908. Epub 2018 Jan 22.

Detection of skin temperature differences using palpation by manual physical therapists and lay individuals

David Levine  1 , J Randy Walker  1 , Denis J Marcellin-Little  2 , Ron Goulet  3 , Hongyu Ru  4
Affiliations

Detection of skin temperature differences using palpation by manual physical therapists and lay individuals

David Levine et al. J Man Manip Ther. 2018 May.

Abstract

Objectives: To evaluate the accuracy of detection of temperature differences among skin sites of lay individuals and manual physical therapists.

Methods: Forty-four manual physical therapists and 44 lay individuals were recruited. Subjects palpated two temperature-controlled surfaces that ranged in temperature between 30 and 35 °C and varied randomly by 1, 2, 3, 4, or 5 °C for 10 s. The subjects were then asked to identify the warmer pad.

Results: Accuracy increased with larger temperature differences. Accuracy of detection of 1 and 3 °C temperature differences was higher in manual physical therapists than lay individuals.

Discussion: Palpation can be used to accurately detecting temperature differences between sites and is more accurately performed by an experienced practitioner.

Level of evidence: 3b.

Keywords: Skin temperature; manual therapy; palpation; physical therapist.

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Figures

Figure 1.
Figure 1.
The temperature testing instrument included two 150-mm-diameter aluminum plates covered with deerskin leather chamois whose temperatures varied from 30 to 35 °C, creating gradients ranging from 1 to 5 °C.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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