Description
| Abstract: | Studies were performed to determine if vibrometry and/or neurometry measures of a provoked wrist yield better correlation to true individual carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) conditions than standard neutral wrist testing. Findings indicate the activity associated with causing or at least consistently aggravating the CTS condition is the activity that should be used in similar provocative wrist deviation minimum vibrotactile threshold (MVT) determinations using 120 Hz. and holding the provocative activity for ten minutes. Testing was conducted in a room with a temperature of 28°C [plus or minus] 2°C after twenty minutes acclimation. A pilot study provided insight into data behavior and established procedures used in a validation study. Eighty-four trials, each with a different hand activity and wrist position combination, established MVT and distal motor latency (DML) determinations on four age matched females who had different levels of CTS. Neutral wrist start values indicate MVT and DML vary daily. Only MVT vary enough to produce false determinations. Menses fluid retention and day of the week may influence a person's MVT. In a validation study, six MVT and DML determinations, each consisting of a different hand activity and wrist deviation combination, were taken on twenty-four healthy and nine CTS females. Sensitivity and specificity values for MVT and DML by CTS condition were established. DML was not an effective discriminator for CTS under the premise of provocative testing. The CLENCHED CHUCK KEY PINCH GRIP IN EXTENDED FLEXION position was an effective adjunct to standard 120 Hz. vibrometry. This position when held for ten minutes provided 100 percent CTS specificity and sensitivity. The same 100 percent specificity and sensitivity was achieved using the aggravation position for the individual and provided greater separation in individual MVT determinations than the CLENCHED CHUCK KEY PINCH GRIP IN EXTENDED FLEXION alone. The aggravation position is STATIC WRIST WITH UNLOADED FLEXION AND EXTENSION OF THE CHUCK KEY PINCH GRIP IN EXTENDED EXTENSION if the patient is most aggravated by wrist extension in daily activities and CLENCHED CHUCK KEY PINCH GRIP IN EXTENDED FLEXION if the patient is most aggravated by wrist flexion in daily activities. |
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| Item Description: | Vita.
"Major subject: Industrial Engineering." |
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| Physical Description: | ix, 121 leaves : illustrations ; 28 cm + 1 computer disc (3.25 in.) |
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| Format: | System requirements for computer disk: Microsoft Word 5.0. |
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| Bibliography: | Includes bibliographical references. |
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