Grip force control in patients with neck and upper extremity pain and healthy controls

Is superficial radial nerve affected in patients with hand osteoarthritis?

INTRODUCTION

Patients with superficial radial neuropathy (SRN) have pain and abnormal sensation on the hand similar to hand osteoarthritis (HOA).

PURPOSE OF THE STUDY

The aim of the present study was to evaluate the presence of SRN in patients with HOA and to determine the factors associated with electrophysiological parameters of the radial nerve.

STUDY DESIGN

This is a case-control study.

METHODS

A total of 138 patients were included in this study. Only the dominant hand of each patient was evaluated. Patients were divided into 2 groups: Group 1 (without SRN) or Group 2 (with SRN) by electrophysiological examination. The presence of osteoarthritis in the first carpometacarpal (1st CMC) joint was investigated. Radiological features of the hands were evaluated with Kellgren-Lawrence grading system. Sonographically, the presence of synovitis in the 1st CMC joint was examined with gray scale and synovial blood flow signal by power Doppler imaging. Erosion and osteophyte scoring were performed for 15 joints. The 1st extensor compartment of wrist's cross-sectional area was measured.

RESULTS

SRN was detected in 68.8% of the patients. High Kellgren-Lawrence scores (P = .027), presence of synovitis in the 1st CMC joint (P = .003), and increased cross-sectional area of the 1st extensor compartment of wrist (P = .005) were found to be independent risk factors for reduced superficial radial nerve conduction velocity.

CONCLUSIONS

Sensory symptoms in patients with HOA might be due to the involvement of the superficial branch of the radial nerve.

Effect of Smartphone Usage on Neck Muscle Endurance, Hand Grip and Pinch Strength among Healthy College Students: A Cross-Sectional Study

In recent years, there has been a significant increase in global smartphone usage driven by different purposes. This study aimed to explore the effect of smartphone usage on neck muscle (flexors and extensors) endurance, hand grip, and pinch strength among young, healthy college students. In total, 40 male students were recruited for this study; 20 of them belonged to the smartphone-addicted group, while the other 20 were in the non-addicted group based on their smartphone addiction scale—short version (SAS-SV) scores (the threshold for determining smartphone addiction: 31/60). Neck flexor endurance time, the ability to perform a neck extensor muscle endurance test, and hand and pinch grip strength were assessed. Multivariate analysis of variance (MANOVA) was used to assess between-group differences in the mean values of neck flexor endurance time, hand grip, and pinch grip. A significant group effect (Wilks’ lambda = 0.51, F _(5,34) = 6.34, p = 0.001, partial eta squared = 0.48) was found. A decrease in neck flexor endurance time was observed in the smartphone-addicted group compared with that of the non-addicted group (p < 0.001). However, there was no notable difference in the neck extensor muscle endurance test or in hand grip and pinch grip strength of both hands between groups (p > 0.05). Using a smartphone for a prolonged time might affect neck flexor muscle endurance; however, more research is needed to explore the long-term effects of using smartphones on neck muscle endurance and hand/pinch grip strength and the risk of developing upper limb neuromusculoskeletal dysfunction.

Effects of cervical manipulation on pain, grip force control, and upper extremity muscle activity: a randomized controlled trial

Objectives

Individuals with neck pain experience disrupted grip force control when performing manipulative tasks. Manipulative physical therapy might decrease pain and change the activity of surrounding muscles; however, its effect on upper limb motor control remains undetermined. This study aims to analyze the effects of cervical manipulation on pressure pain threshold (PPT), upper extremity muscle activity along with grip force control in individuals with neck pain.

Methods

Thirty subjects with neck pain were instructed to grasp and lift an object before and after cervical (n = 15) or sham (n = 15) manipulation. The patients' PPT, electromyographic (EMG) activity of the upper extremity/scapular muscles, and grip force control were analyzed before and after one session of manipulation.

Results

No significant differences were found in the grip force control, PPT and EMG activity variables between groups.

Discussion

These results suggest that a single session of cervical manipulation may not modify upper limb motor control, more specifically grip force control and EMG activity, in patients with cervical pain. Future studies should investigate potential changes in grip force control in patients with different features of neck pain and/or by applying long-term treatment.

Level of Evidence

1b.

Ergonomic evaluation of biomechanical hand function

The human hand is a complex structure that performs various functions for activities of daily living and occupations. This paper presents a literature review on the methodologies used to evaluate hand functions from a biomechanics standpoint, including anthropometry, kinematics, kinetics, and electromyography (EMG). Anthropometry describes the dimensions and measurements of the hand. Kinematics includes hand movements and the range of motion of finger joints. Kinetics includes hand models for tendon and joint force analysis. EMG is used on hand muscles associated with hand functions and with signal-processing technology.

The effect of finger joint hypomobility on precision grip force

STUDY DESIGN

Repeated measures experiment.

INTRODUCTION

Traumatic injuries and certain other diseases of the hand typically affect mobility of the finger joints. Decreased mobility may alter grip force control while one is grasping and lifting objects. However, the effect of finger joint hypomobility on grip force control has not yet been systematically investigated.

PURPOSE OF THE STUDY

The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of limited finger joint mobility, without other associated symptoms like pain, or sensory/proprioceptive deficits, on precision grip force control.

METHODS

Fifteen healthy subjects performed a pinching and lifting task of an object equipped with a force sensor and an accelerometer, via opposition of the thumb and index finger, in the following experimental conditions: unrestricted finger joint movement (UJM), restricted finger flexion (RFF), restricted finger extension (RFE), mock restricted flexion (MRF), mock restricted extension (MRE). The following pinch force variables were measured and analyzed: grip force at lift off, grip force peak, load force peak, latency, and static force.

RESULTS

A significant increase in latency (F = 4.41, p < 0.01) was noted during RFE relative to UJM and MRF conditions. There were no statistically-significant differences between the conditions among the other variables of precision grip force control.

CONCLUSIONS

Limited joint mobility of the thumb and index finger may cause temporal changes in precision grip force control, which can lead to reduced manual dexterity. Restoring range of motion might be an important priority to improve thumb-index pinch force control during manipulative tasks.

Influence of pain associated with musculoskeletal disorders on grip force timing

STUDY DESIGN

Retrospective repeated-measures design.

INTRODUCTION

Pain is a common symptom associated with musculoskeletal conditions.

PURPOSE

This study examined if pain resulting from a unilateral upper extremity musculoskeletal injury compromises the person's ability to rapidly initiate and release handgrip.

METHODS

Delays in initiating and releasing a handgrip were determined for 28 individuals with "low pain" and 12 individuals with "high pain" in the injured upper extremity. All participants had no pain in the uninjured upper extremity.

RESULTS

The high-pain group was 10% slower in initiating and releasing a grip than the low-pain group, in both injured and uninjured upper extremities, for both maximal and submaximal grips. In addition, delay in grip initiation was, on average, 8% longer for the injured than for the uninjured upper extremity.

CONCLUSIONS

Unilateral musculoskeletal pain appears to delay grip initiation and relaxation bilaterally, perhaps due to a centrally mediated mechanism.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE

n/a.

Grip force control in individuals with hand osteoarthritis

Individuals with hand osteoarthritis (OA) experience pain and stiffness that could result in significant limitations in the performance of everyday activities involving upper extremities. The purpose of the study was to evaluate grip force control in individuals with hand OA during the lifting of an object. The study design used was a case-control study. Ten females with hand OA and a group of age-matched females performed two functional tasks: lifting an instrumented object vertically while the load was suddenly changed and lifting and placing the object on a shelf. Load Force Peak, Grip force at liftoff, Grip Force Peak, Time Lag, and Latency were measured and analyzed. Individuals with hand OA were able to modulate the magnitude and temporal parameters of grip force; however, they applied higher grip forces (at liftoff [p=0.002]; Grip Force Peak [p=0.039]) and demonstrated a longer Latency (p=0.015) to manipulate the instrumented object when compared with the control subjects. The Load Force Peak and Time Lag were not significantly different between the two groups. Detailed information about how individuals with hand OA perform prehension activities of daily living will help to better understand the limitations of grip force control in these individuals.