Abstract
[Purpose] This study examined the difference in nerve conduction velocity (NCV) between two groups: one performed median nerve self-mobilization (self-MNM) in an open kinetic chain (OKC) and the other performed self-MNM in a closed kinetic chain (CKC). Our objective was to establish a therapeutic basis for self-MNM, and to provide an effective method of self-MNM for performance at home. [Methods] Our subjects were 20 healthy female college students without symptoms or signs of peripheral neuropathy. Subjects were divided into two groups, and all were examined in a median motor nerve conduction study before the experiment, prior to self-MNM. The first group performed self-MNM for 15 seconds in OKC while the other group performed self-MNM for 15 seconds in CKC; all subjects keeping their elbow and wrist joints extended during that period. Each set was repeated three times, with a break of 10 seconds inserted between each set. [Results] In the wrist-elbow section, NCV increased in the CKC group, but did not significantly change in the OKC group. In the elbow-axilla section, NCV did not change significantly in either of the two groups. [Conclusion] The results show that, in comparison to self-MNM in CKC, self-MNM in OKC was more effective at increasing nerve conduction velocity in the wrist-elbow section.
