Background: Neurodynamic techniques are used for nerve entrapment rehabilitation, these techniques have a direct effect on median nerve excursion in patients with carpal tunnel syndrome and healthy adults. This narrative review clarifies how changes in upper limb positions and movements can change median nerve excursion magnitude and direction.
Aim of work: to determine the best neurodynamic techniques which increase median nerve excursion magnitude and detect the least effective one, and obtain how these techniques affect the excursion direction.
Methods: Google Scholer and PubMed were searched in English and utilized these Keywords: Carpal tunnel syndrome, Neurodynamic techniques, neural mobilization, median nerve excursion.
Results: 12 studies (systematic review, case-control, cross-sectional) studies were included in this review.
Conclusion: Median nerve excursion is influenced by upper limb and neck movements distally or proximally according to the moving joints and direction of movements. Wrist extension and full fist had the greatest effect on median nerve excursion, and MCP joints flexion had the least median nerve excursion.