Multi-digit grasping and manipulation: Effect of carpal tunnel syndrome on force coordination

Jamie A. Johnston, Marco Santello

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceedingChapter

2 Scopus citations

Abstract

Skilled manipulatory behaviors require complex spatial and temporal coordination of the digits. In healthy individuals, visual and somatosensory feedback is processed and integrated with motor commands thus ensuring successful interactions with objects. This process can be disrupted by a number of neuromuscular diseases. One of the most severely debilitating diseases of hand function is carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS), a compression neuropathy of the median nerve resulting in (1) somatosensory deficits in the thumb, index, middle and ring fingers (lateral half) and, in severe cases, (2) motor deficits in the thumb. Most studies that have investigated the effect of CTS on grasp control have focused on force coordination between the affected digits only. For patients with CTS, control of whole-hand grasping poses the additional challenge of coordinating all digits, a subset of which is characterized by deficits in sensorimotor capabilities. Our research on five-digit grasping shows that CTS affects patients' ability to create accurate sensorimotor memories of multi-digit forces for dexterous manipulation. This knowledge significantly extends and complements the information provided by existing clinical tools to diagnose and monitor CTS, with potential to improve the efficacy of clinical interventions such as physical rehabilitation and hand surgery.: Introduction: The coordination of digit forces during manipulatory behaviors relies on the ability to effectively integrate somatosensory and visual feedback with motor commands responsible for modulating forces at individual digits.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Title of host publicationSensorimotor Control of Grasping
Subtitle of host publicationPhysiology and Pathophysiology
PublisherCambridge University Press
Pages285-295
Number of pages11
ISBN (Electronic)9780511581267
ISBN (Print)9780521881579
DOIs
StatePublished - Jan 1 2009

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • General Neuroscience

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