Some biomechanical aspects of the carpal tunnel.

Details

• Personal Author:
  Armstrong TJ ; Chaffin, Don B. ; Armstrong TJ ; Chaffin, Don B.
• Description:
  Biomechanical aspects of the human carpal tunnel were reviewed, and the relationships between forces inside flexed and extended wrists to wrist size, hand force, and hand position were investigated. Studies have indicated that the major force producing muscles during exertions of the hand are the extrinsic finger flexor muscles. These muscles are connected to the fingers with long tendons passing through the carpal tunnel. Studies have suggested that the force between the extrinsic finger flexor tendons and the trochlea in the flexed wrist compresses the median nerve and is a factor in carpal tunnel syndrome. Direct pressure measurements at the site of the median nerve demonstrated compression of the median nerve. Synovial membranes of the radial and ulnar bursas that surround the extrinsic finger flexor tendons also are compressed by forces in both flexed and extended wrists. Repeated compression may cause synovial inflammation and swelling, compressing the median nerve inside the carpal tunnel. When the wrist is extended, a load distribution on the trochlea of the profundus tendon is about 25 percent greater in females than males. When the wrist is flexed, the load on the trochlea in females is 14 percent greater than in males. Exertions of the hand with a wrist in a greatly deviated position would result in greater total force on the tendons and trochleas than would occur with a nearly straight wrist. For a given hand force, greater forces per unit length and greater resultant forces on the tendons and trochleas would be produced in pinch than in grasp. [Description provided by NIOSH]
• Content Notes:
  in NTRL, no pdf
• Subjects:
  Biomechanical Phenomena Ergonomics Musculoskeletal Diseases Musculoskeletal System Occupational Health Safety Sex Characteristics
• Keywords:
  NIOSH-Publication; Hand-injuries; Arm-injuries; Musculoskeletal-system; Carpal-tunnel-syndrome; Sex-factors; Biomechanics; Ergonomics; Muscle-function
• Series:
  Grant Final Reports   ; Grant Final Reports  
• Document Type:
  Text
• Funding:
  Grant
• Genre:
  Final Grant Report ; Final Grant Report
• Place as Subject:
  Michigan ; OSHA Region 5
• CIO:
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) ; National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH)
• Division:
  OEP - Office of Extramural Programs ; OEP - Office of Extramural Programs
• Topic:
  Workplace Safety & Health ; Workplace Safety & Health
• Location:
  North America ; North America
• Pages in Document:
  1-15
• NIOSHTIC Number:
  nn:00181262
• NTIS Accession Number:
  PB88248026
• Citation:
  Department of Environmental and Industrial Health, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan, 1984 Jul; :1-15
• Contact Point Address:
  Industrial & Operations Engr University of Michigan 2260 G G Brown Laboratory Ann Arbor, Mich 48109
• Federal Fiscal Year:
  1984
• NORA Priority Area:
  Disease and Injury: Musculoskeletal Disorders of the Upper Extremities ; Disease and Injury: Musculoskeletal Disorders of the Upper Extremities
• Performing Organization:
  University of Michigan at Ann Arbor
• Peer Reviewed:
  False
• Start Date:
  19760929
• Source Full Name:
  Department of Environmental and Industrial Health, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan
• End Date:
  19830731
• Collection(s):
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health
• Main Document Checksum:
  urn:sha-512:7dc847c09aedf140bc731323e8446b4703641ae07d6ad9e7b7238120dab30b8f7dcaa9b938d34d035f87873a0fe7fec262d5d13dcaf290925445e82b6de3b57d
• Download URL:
  https://stacks.cdc.gov/view/cdc/246123/cdc_246123_DS1.pdf
• File Type:
  [PDF - 168.02 KB ]