Vibrotactile Perception Thresholds following Short-Term Exposure to Hand–Arm Vibration: Application for Identifying Potential Workers at Risk of Neurosensory Disorders

Round 1

Reviewer 1 Report

This study looks at vibrotactile perception thresholds to 31.5 and 125 Hz in older controls and exposed workers, and in young controls.  The study is interesting because little is known about the effects of vibration exposure in older workers.  The authors need to add a statement saying that they had obtained approval from a human subject's board prior to performing the studies.  

Additional comments are included below.

1. line 31 life span is not usually referred to as being elongated, it is usually referred to as increasing or getting longer.

2. Line 31 how are the authors defining "high health literacy"

3. In the first sentence of the introduction "Recently the lifespan of people has been elongated and more and more people have been getting high health literacy, which suggests that people can live longer than ever in good health conditions and work beyond the conventional time limit of job retirement." 

An increase in health literacy does not mean people will live longer.  They actually have to take actions to improve their health. 

4. Can the author please provide references for their statements in the first paragraph

5.  Unless the journal requires it, the table with all the variables from the data analysis does not need to be included.

6.  Were the subjects required to apply or maintain a certain level of pressure 

7.  Why didn't the author include a young exposed group for comparison?

Author Response

Please see the attachment.

Author Response File: Author Response.docx

Reviewer 2 Report

This paper presents “Vibrotactile Perception Threshold after Short-Term Exposure to Vibration and its Application to Early Sign of Neurosensory Symptoms of Hand-Arm Vibration Syndrome (HAVS)”. The study presented in the paper is interesting and useful. However, this reviewer would like suggest the following to further improvement of the manuscript.

 ·        Title should be modified to reflect the study. For example, its Application to Early Sign of Neurosensory Symptoms of Hand-Arm Vibration Syndrome (HAVS)”has not been thoroughly studied in this work”

·        Table 1: How come hand length is 18.8 mm, 1.88 cm?

·        Palm width of 9.5 mm, 0.95cm ? pl clarify

·        What is reason to conduct the experiment in air conditioned room? Pl explain.

·        Close view of the experimental setup. or schematic diagram of the experimental set up is suggested to be included.

·        Suggest to exclude Table 8. p values are already presented in the text. As mot of data are statically insignificant, nothing to be impressed from Table 8.

·        Discussion needs to be improved. Current form is mostly repeating the results. Rather than what have been seen before, better to link current findings with previous finding.

·        Some sentences are difficult to understand in the current form. Paper should be corrected/ poof read by a native speaker before publishing

Author Response

Please see the attachment.

Author Response File: Author Response.docx