Nerve Sensation/Regeneration

Question 1

1. What is the purpose of the sensibility evaluation?
2. What nerves are you testing?
3. What is the goal of testing?

Answer 1

1. Assess the status of the peripheral nervous system.
2. types of nerve fibers
   Motor- Terminate in muscles (fires during MMT, ROM)
   Sensory- Terminate in skin.
   Sympathetic- Part of the autonomic nervous system.
   Distal UE is innervated by the median, ulnar, and radial nerve.
3. Assess status of peripheral nerves.

Question 2

What is the normal rate of growth for nerve regeneration?

Answer 2

1-5 mm/day or an 1” per month

Question 3

What are 2 normal “touch” characteristics during nerve regeneration?

Answer 3

1. Referred touch is common during regeneration.

2. Localization Improves as hand is used more.

Question 4

What can the client expect to feel during regeneration?

Answer 4

Spontaneous sensations which are normal and can be painful. (include: electric stimulation, buzzing, parethesia)