Study on the Training Effect of Palpation Force

The present study was made to elucidate the training effect of examiner's palpation force on the evaluation of pressure pain examination. Using our newly-developed simulator, right and left second fingers' palpation forces in 29 dental students were determined by giving them no special indication (P 1) and making them reproduce the forces of 1, 500gf/cm2after making them practice the latter by monitor (P 2). The results were as follows: 1. The difference of palpation force in P 1 was great compared with that in P 2. 2. Palpation force in P 1 and P 2 showed no significant laterality. 3. Palpation force after training tended to be near the appropriate palpation force. The above results suggest that training for fingers' palpation force may be effective for formation of quantitative kinesthesis and elevating the reliability of the evaluation of pressure pain examination.