This video demonstrates the technique for testing vibration sense. Using a 128 or 256 Hz tuning fork, place it at a distal joint (typically the interphalangeal joint of the great toe). Ensure the patient can feel the vibration. You can then ask them to tell you when the vibration goes away and, either stop it yourself, or wait for it to fade. If you can still feel the vibration, but the patient can not, move the turning fork to another bony prominence more proximally - such as the patients medial malleolus, shin or patella. This will help you determine if the patient has a reduction in vibration sense - and the most distal area which it is intact (vibration threshold).
