Open AccessMeasurement of longitudinal tibial nerve excursion during ankle joint dorsiflexion: an in‐vivo investigation with ultrasound imaging
Author(s) -
Carroll Matthew,
Yau Janet,
Rome Keith,
Hing Wayne
Publication year - 2012
Publication title -
journal of foot and ankle research
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.763
H-Index - 39
ISSN - 1757-1146
DOI - 10.1186/1757-1146-5-s1-o37
Subject(s) - medicine , ankle , ultrasound , excursion , tibial nerve , peripheral , in vivo , biomedical engineering , anatomy , radiology , stimulation , political science , law , microbiology and biotechnology , biology
Background A key mechanical function of peripheral nerves is their ability to slide in relation to the surrounding tissues. This function is of paramount importance to maintain ideal neural function [1]. Advances in ultrasound imaging and the development of specific software (crosscorrelation analysis) have made it possible to analyse real-time ultrasound images, allowing for quantification of in-vivo peripheral nerve movement [2]. Cross-correlation analysis has been utilised in numerous upper extremity in-vivo neural investigations [3-5]. No study has investigated in-vivo longitudinal nerve excursion at the ankle joint. The aims of this study were to quantify the degree of longitudinal tibial nerve excursion as the ankle moved from dorsiflexion to plantarflexion and assess the between session intra-rater reliability of the ultrasound imaging technique.