Common interlimb asymmetries and neurogenic responses during upper limb neurodynamic testing: Implications for test interpretation

摘要

Study Design: Clinical measurement pilot study. Introduction: Upper limb neurodynamic testing (ULNT1) uses interlimb comparisons to investigate nerve sensitivity to movement. Purpose of the Study: To establish the magnitude of range of motion asymmetries between limbs and the frequency of neurogenic sensory responses during ULNT1. Methods: Elbow extension range of motion (EE-ROM) and sensory responses were measured during ULNT1 in dominant and nondominant limbs for 40 asymptomatic participants. Structural differentiation was performed to examine if sensory responses were associated with neurogenic sources. Results: The average intraindividual EE-ROM asymmetry was 7.28 deg (6.68 standard deviation) (95% confidence interval: 5.18, 9.28). Sensory responses in the limbs during ULNT1 were altered by structural differentiation in 95% of participants. An intraindividual, interlimb difference of ≥10 deg exceeds the range of common asymmetry during ULNT1. Conclusions: Neurogenic sensory responses are common findings in healthy individuals and should be acknowledged when interpreting ULNT1 findings.