Open AccessMonitoring motor nerve function in leprosy patients
Author(s) -
J. W. Brandsma
Publication year - 2000
Publication title -
leprosy review
Language(s) - Uncategorized
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.437
H-Index - 43
eISSN - 2162-8807
pISSN - 0305-7518
DOI - 10.5935/0305-7518.20000029
Subject(s) - medicine , leprosy , motor function , physical medicine and rehabilitation , motor nerve , surgery , anatomy , pathology
Manual muscle strength testing has an important function in the management of leprosy patients. Its importance was first recognized in the 1960s, especially when following patients who were started on steroid treatment to monitor the nerve function and the effect of treatment. In those days, and still in many centres today, many or all muscles were tested that are innervated by the nerves that can be at risk in leprosy. The author argues that not all muscles innervated by the nerves at risk need to be tested and also that many muscles cannot be tested in isolation. A muscle charting form is presented which is suitable for screening purposes, and that also allows for more detail when motor function is impaired.