Unlabelled: We examined the effects of carpal tunnel syndrome on thumb strength in multiple directions to test the hypothesis that a force deficit would be most severe in directions associated with abduction. Twelve right-handed women with carpal tunnel syndrome in the right hand, and 12 age-matched, gender-matched, right-handed control subjects were included. Thumb strength was measured in all directions in the transverse plane perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the thumb.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFPURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to characterize thumb motor dysfunction resulting from simulated lower median nerve lesions at the wrist. METHODS: Bupivacaine hydrochloride was injected into the carpal tunnel of six healthy subjects to locally anesthetize the median nerve. Motor function was subsequently evaluated by measuring maximal force production in all directions within the transverse plane perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the thumb.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFWe developed an apparatus to measure maximal continuous circumferential forces of a digit in the transverse plane that is perpendicular to the longitudinal axis. Subjects with asymptomatic hands were asked to produce maximal forces in all directions at the proximal phalanx of the thumb. The force components during circumferential trials were used to construct a force envelope for each subject.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFThe purpose of the current study was to examine motion enslaving characteristics of multiple fingers during isolated flexion of the distal interphalangeal joints. Because the distal interphalangeal joints are flexed by multiple tendons of the single flexor digitorum profundus, the current experimental design provided a unique advantage to understand inter-finger enslaving effects due to the flexor digitorum profundus. Eight subjects were instructed to flex the distal interphalangeal joint of each individual finger from the fully extended position to the fully flexed position as quickly as possible.
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