Differences in Somatosensory Function Related to Hand Dominance: Results of a Quantitative Sensory Testing Study in Healthy Volunteers

Donna L Kennedy,1,2 Imogen Pateman,1 Andrew SC Rice,3 Caroline M Alexander1,2 1Therapy Department, Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust, London, UK; 2Human Performance Group, Department of Surgery and Cancer, Imperial College London, London, UK; 3Pain Research Group, Department of Surgery and Cancer, Faculty Medicine, Imperial College London, London, UKCorrespondence: Donna L Kennedy, Therapy Department, Charing Cross Hospital, Fulham Palace Road, London, W6 8RF, United Kingdom, Email d.kennedy@imperial.ac.ukPurpose: Quantitative sensory testing commonly utilizes the unaffected, contralateral side as a control to detect somatosensory dysfunction. There is scant evidence that somatosensory function for the volar dominant and non-dominant hands is equivalent, therefore intra-patient comparisons are unwarranted. This study aimed to identify dominance-related differences in palmar hand somatosensation, thereby determining if the unaffected contralateral hand is a valid comparator in clinical populations.Participants and Methods: With ethical approval (IREC_13_1_10) and informed consent, 110 healthy adult volunteers’ participated in this clinical measurement study. Somatosensory function was assessed with the German Research Network on Neuropathic Pain (DFNS) quantitative sensory testing (QST) protocol. Half of the participants were tested on the dominant hand. Thirteen parameters of thermal and mechanical detection and pain threshold were evaluated at both the dorsal and volar hand (distal middle finger). Tests were performed in the same order and instructions were read from a standardized script. Results for dorsal hand tests were compared to DFNS normative data to confirm participants met study inclusion criteria. Between-group differences for age and sex were investigated with the independent samples t-test and Chi-square test of independence, respectively. Group differences for dominant and non-dominant hands for all 13 continuous QST parameters were investigated with the Mann–Whitney U-test.Results: Data for 106 participants were included in statistical analysis. Fifty percent of participants were tested on the dominant hand [n=53]; there were no differences for age or sex between groups (dominant or non-dominant hand test group). The dominant volar hand was significantly more sensitive to vibration detection threshold than the non-dominant hand (P=0.001). There were no significant differences related to dominance for other DFNS QST measures.Conclusion: For quantitative sensory testing with the DFNS protocol in healthy cohorts, the contralateral, unaffected hand is a valid control, with the exception of vibration detection threshold.Keywords: thermoreception, mechanoreception, vibration, pain, evaluation