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Abnormal upper limb neurodynamic test in carpal tunnel syndrome and psychosocial factors.
Here is an interesting article that relates to whether psychosocial factors produce abnormal neurodynamic test responses.
Subjects in this study were tested for various aspects; neurological dysfunction, psychosocial factors and neurodynamics.
Two groups were recruited:
- healthy volunteers
- patients with CTS.
Patients with CTS were recruited using recognized clinical and elecrophysiological criteria.
The healthy and CTS groups were compared psychologically in relation to depression, anxiety, catastrophising (rumination, magnification, helplessness) and positive outlook.
The upper limb neurodynamic test (median neurodynamic test 1) was performed on the CTS group and the psychological profiles compared between those who had positive and negative tests (a positive test response was defined as reproducing at least part of the patient's symptoms and structural differentiation producing a change in that response).
The above protocol would reveal if psychosocial changes correlated with abnormality in neurodynamic tests.
Results
There were significant differences between the CTS and healthy groups in respect of pain anxiety, depression and positive outlook.
There were no significant psychological differences between the groups with positive and negative tests.
Conclusions
Amongst other things, this article provides evidence for the idea that, even though CTS produces significant psychosocial and plastic changes in the central nervous system, those changes did not produce abnormal neurodynamic responses.
Abnormal neurodynamic test responses in carpal tunnel syndrome appear to be heavily based on physical changes.
Subjects in this study were tested for various aspects; neurological dysfunction, psychosocial factors and neurodynamics.
Two groups were recruited:
- healthy volunteers
- patients with CTS.
Patients with CTS were recruited using recognized clinical and elecrophysiological criteria.
The healthy and CTS groups were compared psychologically in relation to depression, anxiety, catastrophising (rumination, magnification, helplessness) and positive outlook.
The upper limb neurodynamic test (median neurodynamic test 1) was performed on the CTS group and the psychological profiles compared between those who had positive and negative tests (a positive test response was defined as reproducing at least part of the patient's symptoms and structural differentiation producing a change in that response).
The above protocol would reveal if psychosocial changes correlated with abnormality in neurodynamic tests.
Results
There were significant differences between the CTS and healthy groups in respect of pain anxiety, depression and positive outlook.
There were no significant psychological differences between the groups with positive and negative tests.
Conclusions
Amongst other things, this article provides evidence for the idea that, even though CTS produces significant psychosocial and plastic changes in the central nervous system, those changes did not produce abnormal neurodynamic responses.
Abnormal neurodynamic test responses in carpal tunnel syndrome appear to be heavily based on physical changes.