Carpal Tunnel Syndrome Research Today is a free monthly online journal that collates and summarizes the latest research about Carpal Tunnel Syndrome, including details on symptoms, causes, trauma, diagnosis, physiotherapy.

Flexor carpi radialis motoneuron pool in subjects with chronic carpal tunnel syndrome are more excitable than matched control subjects.

Jaberzadeh S, Scutter S

Department of Physiology, Medical School, University of Adelaide, Adelaide, SA 5005, Australia. shapour.jaberzadeh@adelaide.edu.au

We compared excitability of the flexor carpi radialis (FCR) motoneuron pool in subjects with and without carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS). The study involved 11 subjects with chronic idiopathic CTS and 11 asymptomatic subjects as controls. The H-reflex and M-response of FCR muscle were obtained by stimulating the median nerve in the cubital fossa in the presence of an isometric background contraction using surface stimulating and recording electrodes. There was a significantly higher H-reflex latency and amplitude and Hmax/Mmax in CTS subjects (P<0.05). Latency and amplitude of the M-response remained unaffected in CTS group. The results support the hypothesis that central hypersensitivity does occur in chronic CTS. Therefore even in the presence of pathology in peripheral structures central mechanisms should be considered by clinicians.

Published 25 January 2006 in Man Ther, 11(1): 22-7.
Full-text of this article is available online (may require subscription).

© 2005-2008 Carpal Tunnel Syndrome Research Today. All Rights Reserved.