Evaluation of normal values for stationary and moving two-point discrimination in the hand.

Stationary and moving two-point discrimination were tested in a normal population stratified by age and sex. The 467 subjects tested consisted of 202 females and 265 males whose ages ranged from 4 years to 92 years. Statistical analysis of the data revealed the following: (1) Moving two-point values were of lesser magnitude than stationary two-point values in all areas tested; (2) test values for median innervated areas were lower by both methods than values for ulnar innervated areas; (3) there was a gradual increase in the magnitude of the test values for both methods with advancing age; (4) female subjects consistently tended to discriminate at shorter distances when compared with male subjects at corresponding sites; and (5) the absolute values obtained were dependent upon the individual examiner, but the statistical significance applied to the data of all of the examiners.