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Volume 8
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10.3390/vibration8030036
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Article

The Association Between Vibrotactile and Thermotactile Perception Thresholds and Personal Risk Factors in Workers Exposed to Hand-Transmitted Vibration

by
Fabiano Barbiero
1,*,
Andrea Miani
1,
Marcella Mauro
1,
Flavia Marrone
2,
Enrico Marchetti
3,
Francesca Rui
1,
Angelo Tirabasso
3,
Carlotta Massotti
2,
Marco Tarabini
2,
Francesca Larese Filon
1 and
Federico Ronchese
1
1
UOC Unit of Occupational Medicine, Department of Medical Sciences, University of Trieste, 34129 Trieste, Italy
2
Department of Mechanical Engineering, Politecnico di Milano, 20133 Milan, Italy
3
Department of Occupational Hygiene, National Institute for Insurance Against Accidents at Work, 00078 Monte Porzio Catone, Italy
*
Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Vibration 2025, 8(3), 36; https://doi.org/10.3390/vibration8030036
Submission received: 4 June 2025 / Revised: 27 June 2025 / Accepted: 2 July 2025 / Published: 4 July 2025
Versions Notes

Abstract

Background: Hand–arm vibration syndrome (HAVS) is a well-recognized occupational condition resulting from prolonged exposure to hand-transmitted vibration (HTV), characterized by vascular, neurological, and musculoskeletal impairments. While vibration exposure is a known risk factor for HAVS, less is understood about the role of personal risk factors and, particularly regarding neurosensory dysfunction. This study aimed to examine the association between vibrotactile (VPT) and thermotactile perception thresholds (TPT) and individual risk factors and comorbidities in HTV-exposed workers. Methods: A total of 235 male HTV workers were evaluated between 1995 and 2005 at the University of Trieste’s Occupational Medicine Unit. Personal, occupational, and health-related data were collected, and sensory function was assessed in both hands. VPTs at 31.5 and 125 Hz and TPTs (for warm and cold) were measured on fingers innervated by the median and ulnar nerves. Results: Multivariable regression analysis revealed that impaired VPTs were significantly associated with age, higher daily vibration exposure (expressed as 8 h energy-equivalent A(8) values), BMI ≥ 25, smoking, vascular/metabolic disorders, and neurosensory symptoms. In contrast, TPTs showed weaker and less consistent associations, with some links to smoking and alcohol use. Conclusions: These findings suggest that, in addition to vibration exposure, individual factors such as aging, overweight, smoking, and underlying health conditions significantly contribute to neurosensory impairment and may exacerbate neurosensory dysfunction in a context of HAVS. The results underscore the importance of including personal health risk factors in both clinical assessment and preventive strategies for HAVS and may inform future research on its pathogenesis.
Keywords: hand–arm transmitted vibration; hand–arm vibration syndrome; HAVS; vibrotactile perception threshold; thermotactile perception threshold; personal risk factors hand–arm transmitted vibration; hand–arm vibration syndrome; HAVS; vibrotactile perception threshold; thermotactile perception threshold; personal risk factors

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MDPI and ACS Style

Barbiero, F.; Miani, A.; Mauro, M.; Marrone, F.; Marchetti, E.; Rui, F.; Tirabasso, A.; Massotti, C.; Tarabini, M.; Larese Filon, F.; et al. The Association Between Vibrotactile and Thermotactile Perception Thresholds and Personal Risk Factors in Workers Exposed to Hand-Transmitted Vibration. Vibration 2025, 8, 36. https://doi.org/10.3390/vibration8030036

AMA Style

Barbiero F, Miani A, Mauro M, Marrone F, Marchetti E, Rui F, Tirabasso A, Massotti C, Tarabini M, Larese Filon F, et al. The Association Between Vibrotactile and Thermotactile Perception Thresholds and Personal Risk Factors in Workers Exposed to Hand-Transmitted Vibration. Vibration. 2025; 8(3):36. https://doi.org/10.3390/vibration8030036

Chicago/Turabian Style

Barbiero, Fabiano, Andrea Miani, Marcella Mauro, Flavia Marrone, Enrico Marchetti, Francesca Rui, Angelo Tirabasso, Carlotta Massotti, Marco Tarabini, Francesca Larese Filon, and et al. 2025. "The Association Between Vibrotactile and Thermotactile Perception Thresholds and Personal Risk Factors in Workers Exposed to Hand-Transmitted Vibration" Vibration 8, no. 3: 36. https://doi.org/10.3390/vibration8030036

APA Style

Barbiero, F., Miani, A., Mauro, M., Marrone, F., Marchetti, E., Rui, F., Tirabasso, A., Massotti, C., Tarabini, M., Larese Filon, F., & Ronchese, F. (2025). The Association Between Vibrotactile and Thermotactile Perception Thresholds and Personal Risk Factors in Workers Exposed to Hand-Transmitted Vibration. Vibration, 8(3), 36. https://doi.org/10.3390/vibration8030036

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