Test–retest and inter‐rater reliability of two devices measuring tactile mechanical detection thresholds in healthy adults: Semmes–Weinstein monofilaments and the cutaneous mechanical stimulator

Introduction/Aims Limitations exist in evaluating mechanical detection thresholds (MDTs) due to a lack of dependable electronic instruments designed to assess Aβ fibers and measure MDTs across different body areas. This study aims to evaluate the test–retest and inter‐rater reliability of the cutaneous mechanical stimulator (CMS), an electronic tactile stimulator, in quantifying MDTs. Methods Using a test–retest design, participants underwent assessments of MDTs using Semmes–Weinstein monofilaments (SWM) and the CMS. This study included 27 healthy volunteers (mean age 24.07 ± 3.76 years). Two raters assessed MDTs using SWM and the CMS at two stimulation sites (the left hand and foot) in two experimental sessions approximately 2 weeks apart. Results MDTs using SWM and the CMS showed excellent reliability on the hand (intraclass correlation coefficient [ICC] = .84) and foot (ICC = .90). A comparison of results obtained at the two sessions showed that MDTs on the hand displayed good reliability for both SWM (ICC = .63) and the CMS (ICC = .73), whereas MDTs on the foot displayed fair reliability for SWM (ICC = .50) and the CMS (ICC = .42). MDTs exhibited good inter‐rater reliability with SWM (ICC = .66) and excellent inter‐rater reliability with the CMS (ICC = .82) on the hand, as well as showing fair inter‐rater reliability with SWM (ICC = .53) and good inter‐rater reliability with the CMS (ICC = .60) on the foot. Discussion The CMS showed superior inter‐rater reliability, indicating its potential as a valuable tool for assessing tactile sensitivity in research and clinical settings.