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Tag Archive: timed vibration test

  1. ADA releases Standards of Care in Diabetes—2023

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    The American Diabetes Association just released their 2023 version of it’s Standards of Care in Diabetes. The Retinopathy, Neuropathy, and Foot Care: Standards of Care in Diabetes chapter again reflects the latest evidenced-based guidelines on the treatment of the diabetic foot. Some newer recommendations include topical oxygen therapy for recalcitrant diabetic foot ulcers and alpha lipoic acid for neuropathic pain. Testing patients with diabetes for Loss of Protective Sensation (LOPS) with a 10g monofilament and at least one other neurological screening tool is again advised. One of these approved methods includes vibration testing with the 128 Hz tuning fork or “similar device”. These guidelines are in agreement with our latest ETF research paper, Combined Utility of the Semmes-Weinstein Monofilament and the Timed Vibration Test in the Prediction of Diabetic Foot Ulcers.

  2. Timed Vibration Testing aids in the Diagnosis of Distal Sensory Polyneuropathy

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    A new article written by  Prabhakar et al. has demonstrated the utility of timed vibration testing  in diagnosing distal sensory polyneuropathy (DSP) due to a variety of conditions. They utilized a 128 Hz tuning fork and a handheld stopwatch to time how long patients could feel the vibrations at the hallux, medial malleolus and tibial tuberosity. They noted sensitivity of  85% for the test. Additionally, they were able to conclude that patients with vibration sense lasting >8 seconds at the hallux were free of DSP. Coincidentally, this correlates well with the new 7 second cutoff for early neuropathy on the updated ETF.