Ipswich Touch Test

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Original Editor - Carina Therese Magtibay
Top Contributors - Carina Therese Magtibay

Purpose[edit | edit source]

The Ipswich Touch Test was developed by Rayman et. al in 2011 to aid in the assessment of foot sensation among diabetic inpatients. It is a quick and simple test with no equipment required used to screen for patients who are at risk of foot ulceration.[1]

Technique[edit | edit source]

  1. Instruct patient to close eyes and say “yes” whenever the touch on a toe is felt.
  2. Lightly touch/rest the tip of the index finger for 1–2 seconds on the tips of the first, third, and fifth toes of the patient.
    • Do not push, prod, tap, or poke because this may elicit a sensation other than light touch.
  3. Repeat it on the other foot.


Scoring:

  • 0/6 is a poor score
  • 6/6 is a good score
  • <4/6  indicates neuropathy

[2]

Evidence[edit | edit source]

Provide the evidence for this technique here

Resources[edit | edit source]

add any relevant resources here

References[edit | edit source]

  1. Rayman G, Vas PR, Baker N, Taylor Jr CG, Gooday C, Alder AI, Donohoe M. The Ipswich Touch Test: a simple and novel method to identify inpatients with diabetes at risk of foot ulceration. Diabetes care. 2011 Jul 1;34(7):1517-8.
  2. Academy of Physical Medicine. Ipswich Touch Test for Peripheral Neuropathy | Osteopathic and Chiropractic CPD. Available from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d4z7Yj1vQGU [last accessed 23/03/2023]