Article

Lower motor neurons are the only neurons of the central nervous
system (CNS) with the ability to regenerate without any intervention after an
axotomy. AIM: This present study was conducted to analyze clinical and
electrophysiological parameters in four groups of upper limb peripheral
neuropathies, before and after treatment, comparing the results obtained after
three cures of complex rehabilitation therapy.
METHODS: We selected
a number of 107 patients (66 women and 41 men) aged between 29 and 77 years (mean
age = 49.6). Clinical (muscular strength, sensitivity) and electrophysiological
parameters (accommodation coefficient alpha, nerve conduction velocity) were
analyzed. All patients received 3 comprehensive treatment cures, each cure of 14
days and a rest period of 3 months between the cures. RESULTS: From the total of
107 patients included in the study, 52 were diagnosed with brachial plexus palsy,
27 with radial nerve palsy, 18 with median nerve palsy and 10 with ulnar nerve
palsy. We did not observe a statistically significant difference between the mean
age of males (47.2) and females (51.2) (p = 0.07), but peripheral neuropathies
were more common in young males. At the end of the rehabilitation treatment all
patients achieved better outcomes in muscle strength, sensitivity, adjustment
coefficient alpha and nerve conduction velocity (p < 0.001).CONCLUSIONThe
intervention of a physical therapy program in patients with peripheral
neuropathies provided significantly better outcomes in clinical and
electrophysiological parameters. Our rehabilitation protocol can be considered an
alternative in order to stimulate and accelerate the nerve regeneration process.

Langue : ANGLAIS