Greening, Jane and Dilley, Andrew (2017) Posture-induced changes in peripheral nerve stiffness measured by ultrasound shear-wave elastography. Muscle & nerve, 55 (2). pp. 213-222. ISSN 1097-4598

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Abstract

Introduction: Peripheral nerves slide and stretch during limb movements. Changes in nerve stiffness associated with such movements have not been examined in detail but may be important in understanding movement-evoked pain in patients with a variety of different musculoskeletal conditions.

Methods: Shear-wave elastography was used to examine stiffness in the median and tibial nerves of healthy individuals during postures used clinically to stretch these nerves.

Results: Shear-wave velocity increased when limbs were moved into postures that are thought to increase nerve stiffness (mean increase: median nerve = 208% in arm, 236% in forearm; tibial nerve = 136%). There was a trend toward a negative correlation between age and shear-wave velocity (r = 0.58 for tibial nerve).

Conclusions: Shear-wave elastography provides a tool for examining nerve biomechanics in healthy individuals and patients. However, limb position, age, and effects of nerve tension on neural architecture should be taken into consideration.

Item Type:	Article
Schools and Departments:	Brighton and Sussex Medical School > Brighton and Sussex Medical School Brighton and Sussex Medical School > Division of Medical Education
Subjects:	Q Science > QP Physiology > QP0351 Neurophysiology and neuropsychology > QP0361 Nervous system R Medicine > RC Internal medicine > RC0321 Neurosciences. Biological psychiatry. Neuropsychiatry R Medicine > RC Internal medicine > RC0321 Neurosciences. Biological psychiatry. Neuropsychiatry > RC0346 Neurology. Diseases of the nervous system Including speech disorders
Depositing User:	Andrew Dilley
Date Deposited:	19 Sep 2016 10:25
Last Modified:	22 Sep 2017 15:25
URI:	http://sro.sussex.ac.uk/id/eprint/63400

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