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Posture‐induced changes in peripheral nerve stiffness measured by ultrasound shear‐wave elastography
Author(s) -
Greening Jane,
Dilley Andrew
Publication year - 2017
Publication title -
muscle and nerve
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.025
H-Index - 145
eISSN - 1097-4598
pISSN - 0148-639X
DOI - 10.1002/mus.25245
Subject(s) - tibial nerve , medicine , forearm , biomechanics , median nerve , ultrasound , elastography , peripheral , anatomy , radiology , stimulation
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. Muscle Nerve 55 : 213–222, 2017