Finger Flexor Tendon Forces Are a Complex Function of Finger Joint Motions and Fingertip Forces

Details

• Personal Author:
  Dennerlein, Jack T.
• Description:
  In vivo tendon forces provide a view inside the musculoskeletal system revealing muscle function and potential injury etiologies. The studies presented here measured the in vivo tendon force of the flexor digitorum superficialis of the long finger during open carpal tunnel release surgery in ten adult patients. Forces were measured during passive movement of the finger, isometric pinch, and dynamic tapping of the finger. The tendon forces during passive movement of the finger were the largest with the finger fully extended. During isometric pinch, tendon force was linearly related to fingertip force, and was on average 3.3 times larger than the fingertip force. During dynamic activities, however, the relationship between tip and tendon force was nonlinear and often remained elevated when the finger was moving but with no applied force. Tendon forces were the highest with the isometric finger pinch. In conclusion, tendon force is a completed function of both fingertip load and motion of the joints that the tendons cross. A comparison of these results with others published in the literature indicated that rehabilitation processes need to incorporate a systems approach rather than rely on one specific physiologic relationship to minimize finger flexor tendon forces. [Description provided by NIOSH]
• Subjects:
  Coal Coal Mining Dust Environmental Monitoring Lung Lung Diseases Mining Occupational Health Respiratory System Respiratory Tract Diseases Safety

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• Keywords:
  Etiology Extremities Force Injuries In Vivo Study Muscle Function Muscles Musculoskeletal System Physiological Function Physiology
• ISSN:
  0894-1130
• Document Type:
  Text
• Funding:
  Grant
• Genre:
  Journal Article
• Place as Subject:
  Massachusetts ; OSHA Region 1
• CIO:
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH)
• Topic:
  Workplace Safety & Health
• Location:
  North America
• Pages in Document:
  120-127
• Volume:
  18
• Issue:
  2
• NIOSHTIC Number:
  nn:20055254
• Citation:
  J Hand Ther 2005 Apr-Jun; 18(2):120-127
• Contact Point Address:
  Jack Tigh Dennerlein,n PhD, Department of Environmental Health, Harvard School of Public Health, 665 Huntington Avenue, Boston, MA 02115
• Federal Fiscal Year:
  2005
• Performing Organization:
  Harvard School of Public Health
• Peer Reviewed:
  True
• Start Date:
  20030701
• Source Full Name:
  Journal of Hand Therapy
• End Date:
  20050630
• Collection(s):
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health
• Main Document Checksum:
  urn:sha-512:cbf000ff2ec35e5990b1e6bac22c20a6a858faf58f4637b8b7e57f137912758303fbaa63afcd9ed7da9f0b928735ab010635989d0e32bd52e8bdb375291f523f
• Download URL:
  https://stacks.cdc.gov/view/cdc/217598/cdc_217598_DS1.pdf
• File Type:
  [PDF - 3.15 MB ]