Grip strength evaluation of Wistar rats submitted to a model of median nerve compression treated with neural mobilization

Abstract

Among the technical features of median nerve compression, may include: pain, paresthesias and grip strength decreased. There are several treatment options, but no therapy is universally accepted, some still occurring for unwanted side effects. The neural mobilization is one of the possibilities held with stretching of the nerve distal to mobilization. Thus the aim of this study was to assess the grip strength in rats submitted to the model of median nerve compression treated with neural mobilization. We used 10 Wistar rats divided into 2 groups: CG (n=5) – subject to nerve compression and untreated; NMG (n=5) – subject to nerve compression and treated with neural mobilization for 3 minutes in 3 rd , 5 th and 7 th postoperatively (PO). To perform the compression of the median nerve was performed knot with wired Catgut 4.0 Chrome in 4 points, with a distance of approximately 1 mm in the median nerve in the proximal region to the right elbow. Muscle strength was assessed using grip strength meter, with the animals can cling to the instrument and pulled by the tail, the evaluations occurred before the injury and on the 3 rd , 5 th , 7 th and 9 th PO. For both groups a significant decrease in values after pre-injury, and the comparison between groups did not differ. It is concluded that the use of neural mobilization in animals subjected to a compression of the median nerve had no effect on the grip strength in rats.