In vivo nerve excursion and strain in asymptomatic and symptomatic individuals: a systematic review

• Autor(a) principal: Martins, Cleide Sofia Lemos
• Data de Publicação: 2021
• Tipo de documento: Dissertação
• Idioma: eng
• Título da fonte: Repositório Científico de Acesso Aberto de Portugal (Repositórios Cientìficos)
• Texto Completo: http://hdl.handle.net/10773/31210
• topic: Nerve excursion; Strain; Symptomatic; Asymptomatic

Introduction: Currently, the understand of the influence of joint movement on neural biomechanics, particularly strain and excursion is important for clinical practice. However, studies that evaluate this are in lack. The aim of this review is to synthesize and characterize existing evidence on the quantity and direction of peripheral nerves excursion and the magnitude of strain in response to joint movement in both asymptomatic and symptomatic individuals and to determine if there are differences between asymptomatic and symptomatic individuals. Methods: Studies were sought using Pubmed, Physiotherapy Evidence Database - PEDro, Academic Search Complete, Scopus, ScienceDirect, Web of Science and Scielo. Titles and abstracts were screened, full reports were assessed for potentially eligible studies, the information was extracted and its methodological quality was assessed. Findings: Thirty-three studies were included in this systematic review that assessed median nerve (n=17), cubital nerve (n=2), radial nerve (n=1), sciatic nerve (n=8), tibial nerve (n=4) and femoral nerve (n=1). Normal nerve movement can be up to 50.2mm of longitudinal excursion. Participants with Diabetes Mellitus presented altered tibial nerve excursion compared to asymptomatic individuals. Participants with non-specific arm pain and spinally referred leg pain had no restriction of nerve movement compared to asymptomatic participants. Conclusion: Nerve excursion depends on the positioning of limbs or trunk, on the joint movement performed, the site of measurement and the presence of pathology.