Question

In desensitization therapy, what is the purpose of looking at the limb?

a) To assess skin color
b) To assess for any abnormalities
c) To provide visual input to further normalize stimuli
d) To distract the patient

Answer 1

In desensitization therapy, looking at the limb helps provide visual input to further normalize stimuli and aids in associating visual with somatosensory information in a therapeutic context.

Step-by-step explanation:

In desensitization therapy, looking at the limb serves the purpose of providing visual input to further normalize stimuli. This process is an essential part of sensory exams that assess the somatic senses, which are consciously perceived. Particularly, it involves testing the regions known as dermatomes that connect to the cortical region, where somatosensation is processed in the brain's postcentral gyrus. By looking at the limb while concurrently exposing it to tactile inputs, such as a light touch from a cotton-tipped applicator or the perception of tactile movement, patients can relearn to associate visual with somatosensory cues in a non-threatening way, which can be important for reactions to stimuli within a desensitized or hypersensitized dermatome.

These approaches to sensory testing also encompass the assessment of proprioception, the sense of position and motion, by asking patients if they sense their fingers or toes moving. The process ensures that patients are not only feeling but also visually corroborating their senses, which can help in normalizing the perception of different sensations, and prevent mixing somatosensory cues such as light touch with pain.