Ann Rehabil Med.  2017 Feb;41(1):58-65. 10.5535/arm.2017.41.1.58.

Electrophysiologic and Ultrasonographic Assessment of Carpal Tunnel Syndrome in Wheelchair Basketball Athletes

• Kim DK
• Kim BS
• Kim MJ
• Kim KH
• Park BK
• Kim DH

• KMID: 2383678
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.5535/arm.2017.41.1.58

Abstract

OBJECTIVE
To investigate the contributing factors of carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS), electrodiagnostic and ultrasonographic findings of median nerve, and median nerve change after exercise in wheelchair basketball (WCB) players.
METHODS
Fifteen WCB players with manual wheelchairs were enrolled in the study. Medical history of the subjects was taken. Electrodiagnosis and ultrasonography of both median nerves were performed to assess CTS in WCB players. Ultrasonographic median nerves evaluation was conducted after wheelchair propulsion for 20 minutes.
RESULTS
Average body mass index (BMI) and period of wheelchair use of CTS subjects were greater than those of normal subjects. Electrodiagnosis revealed CTS in 14 of 30 hands (47%). Cross-sectional area (CSA) of median nerve was greater in CTS subjects than in normal subjects at 0.5 cm and 1 cm proximal to distal wrist crease (DWC), DWC, 1 cm, 2 cm, 3 cm, and 3.5 cm distal to DWC. After exercising, median nerve CSAs at 0.5 cm and 1 cm proximal to DWC, DWC, and 3 cm and 3.5 cm distal to DWC were greater than baseline CSAs in CTS subjects; and median nerve CSAs at 1 cm proximal to DWC and DWC were greater than baseline CSAs in normal subjects. The changes in median nerve CSA after exercise in CTS subjects were greater than in normal subjects at 0.5 cm proximal to DWC and 3 cm and 3.5 cm distal to DWC.
CONCLUSION
BMI and total period of wheelchair use contributed to developing CTS in WCB players. The experimental exercise might be related to the median nerve swelling around the inlet and outlet of carpal tunnel in WCB athletes with CTS.

Keyword

Wheelchair basketball; Carpal tunnel syndrome; Electromyography; Ultrasonography

MeSH Terms

Athletes*
Basketball*
Bays
Body Mass Index
Carpal Tunnel Syndrome*
Electrodiagnosis
Electromyography
Hand
Humans
Median Nerve
Ultrasonography
Wheelchairs*
Wrist

Figure

• 

  Fig. 1 Schematic drawing of experimental figure 8 exercise course. Wheelchair propulsion exercise in figure 8 course of about 30 m was done for 20 minutes with sustainable and submaximal speed. When the wheelchair basketball players changed their direction at the end of the course, they stopped in a moment for braking.

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