A study of tapping by the unaffected finger of patients presenting with central and peripheral nerve damage.

Yang Liu,Jun Zou,Lingli Zhang,Yulian Zhu,Xiuying Han,Peihong Li,Zhusheng Yu

doi:10.3389/fnhum.2015.00260

Yang Liu, Jun Zou + Show 5 more

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https://doi.org/10.3389/fnhum.2015.00260

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Abstract

Whether the unaffected function of the hand of patients presenting with nerve injury is affected remains inconclusive. We aimed to evaluate whether there are differences in finger tapping following central or peripheral nerve injury compared with the unaffected hand and the ipsilateral hand of a healthy subject. Thirty right brain stroke patients with hemiplegia, 30 left arm peripheral nerve injury cases, and 60 healthy people were selected. We tested finger tapping of the right hands, and each subject performed the test twice. Finger tapping following peripheral nerve injury as compared with the unaffected hand and the dominant hand of a healthy person was markedly higher than was found for central nerve injury (P < 0.05). Finger tapping of the male peripheral group's unaffected hand and the control group's dominant hand was significantly higher than the central group (P < 0.001). However, finger tapping of the female control group's dominant hand was significantly higher than the central group's unaffected hand (P < 0.01, P = 0.002), the peripheral group's unaffected hand (P < 0.05, P = 0.034). The unaffected function of the hand of patients with central and peripheral nerve injury was different as compared with the ipsilateral hand of healthy individuals. The rehabilitation therapist should intensify the practice of normal upper limb fine activities and coordination of the patient.

Highlights

Fine movements of hands include percussion, swinging motions, pinching, grasping, pulling, and pushing, among other dexterous functions
Measurement of an individual’s ability to tap fingers is an important method of assessing neuromuscular integrity (Collyer et al, 1994). It has been previously shown for handedness (Peters, 1980), for an individual differences in skill acquisition (Ackerman and Cianciolo, 2000), on neurobehavioral effects of toxic agents (Baker et al, 1985), and in clinical neurological examinations (Shimoyama et al, 1990)
Participants Patients with Central Nerve Injury We selected 30 patients presenting with stroke of the right brain with hemiplegia (15 males and 15 females), who were admitted to the Department of Rehabilitation Medicine of Yangpu District Old Hospital, Tianshan Hospital, Shanghai Seventh People’s Hospital and the Neurological Rehabilitation Department of the Hospital of Shanghai University of Sport from February 1, 2012 through March 31, 2014, including 8 cases of cerebral hemorrhage and 22 cases of cerebral infarction

Summary

Introduction

Fine movements of hands include percussion, swinging motions, pinching, grasping, pulling, and pushing, among other dexterous functions. Measurement of an individual’s ability to tap fingers is an important method of assessing neuromuscular integrity (Collyer et al, 1994). It has been previously shown for handedness (Peters, 1980), for an individual differences in skill acquisition (Ackerman and Cianciolo, 2000), on neurobehavioral effects of toxic agents (Baker et al, 1985), and in clinical neurological examinations (Shimoyama et al, 1990). Stroke is the third leading cause of death in the world, and it is the leading cause of severe disability in patients in the developed world (Beers et al, 2000). Stroke adversely affects the quality of life

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