Background: Decreased sense of touch on the feet is associated with a greater risk of falls, and a reduced sense of pressure with the risk of injuries and pressure ulcers. For quantitative assessment of touch sensory threshold, monofilaments are used. The purpose was to review the study results of touch sensory threshold reliability with monofilaments on the lower limbs. Methods: Research articles were identified by searching PubMed. Results: In the ten studies, Semmes-Weinstein's monofilaments were used, and in one WEST. Intra-tester and inter-tester reliability of touch sensory threshold assessment with the monofilaments was poor to excellent. Reliability of experienced assessors was good to excellent (ICC = 0.76-0.96). Reliability was the highest on the plantar side of the 1st finger and the 1st metatarsal (ICC = 0.52-0.94), and for the sensory threshold criterion based on at least two perceptions of the three received stimuli (ICC = 0.88-0.95), two of two (ICC = 0.92-0.94) and three perceptions of the three received stimuli (ICC = 0.61-0.92). Conclusions: Assessment of touch sensory threshold on the lower limbs can be reliable if it is carried out according to the appropriate procedures. Reliability is influenced by experience of assessors, the criterion for determining the sensory threshold and the number of assessment areas.
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