The most disabling aspect of human peripheral nerve injuries, the majority of which affect the upper limbs, is the loss of skilled hand movements. Activity-induced morphological and electrophysiological remodeling of the neuromuscular junction has been shown to influence nerve repair and functional recovery. In the current study, we determined the effects of two different treatments on the functional and morphological recovery after median and ulnar nerve injury. Adult Wistar male rats weighing 280 to 330 g at the time of surgery (N = 8-10 animals/group) were submitted to nerve crush and 1 week later began a 3-week course of motor rehabilitation involving either "skilled" (reaching for small food pellets) or "unskilled" (walking on a motorized treadmill) training. During this period, functional recovery was monitored weekly using staircase and cylinder tests. Histological and morphometric nerve analyses were used to assess nerve regeneration at the end of treatment. The functional evaluation demonstrated benefits of both tasks, but found no difference between them (P > 0.05). The unskilled training, however, induced a greater degree of nerve regeneration as evidenced by histological measurement (P < 0.05). These data provide evidence that both of the forelimb training tasks used in this study can accelerate functional recovery following brachial plexus injury.

Os objetivos do estudo foram verificar o efeito da idade, gênero e dominância na capacidade funcional dos membros superiores (MMSS), desenvolver valores de referência para a versão brasileira do TEMPA (Test d’Evaluation de la performance des Membres supérieurs dês Personnes Agées; teste de função dos MMSS) e verificar a relação entre a destreza digital e manual e a capacidade funcional dos MMSS. Participaram 281 indivíduos acima de 40 anos. As destrezas manual e digital foram avaliadas, respectivamente, através do Box and Blocks Test (BBT) e do Nine Hole Peg Test (NHPT). A ANOVA foi utilizada para avaliar o efeito da idade, do sexo e lateralidade. O coeficiente de correlação de Pearson foi usado para avaliar a relação entre a destreza e o TEMPA. Nas faixas etárias de 70-79 e acima dos 80 anos observou-se um declínio nas tarefas do TEMPA comparativamente às faixas etárias inferiores. Não foram observadas diferenças significativas entre as faixas etárias de 40-49, 50-59 e 60-69 anos, em nenhuma das tarefas. O declínio da destreza digital nas mulheres e da destreza manual nos homens apresentou correlação com a diminuição da função dos MMSS. Conhecer os efeitos do envelhecimento na função dos MMSS e o impacto das alterações de destreza é importante para identificar mudanças patológicas que afetam os MMSS.

The purpose of this study was to verify the effect of age, gender and dominance on upper limb functional capacity and develop reference values on Functional performance test for upper extremity, Brazilian version of TEMPA (Test d’Evaluation de la performance des Membres supérieurs dês Personnes Agées), and verify the relationship between hand and digital dexterity and arm functional capacity. Participated in the study 281 individuals, aging more than 40 years old. Manual dexterity and finger dexterity were assessed with Box and Blocks Test (BBT) and Nine Hole Peg Test, respectively. ANOVA evaluated the effects of age in men and women and effects of gender and laterality. Pearson`s correlation evaluated the relation between dexterity and upper limb function. In 70 to 79 years strata and the strata older than 80 TEMPA tasks have shown a decline compared to the younger strata. No significant differences were see between 40-49, 50-59 e 60-69 years old strata for any task. Decline in digital dexterity in women and in hand dexterity in man was correlated with decrease in upper limb function. The knowledge on effects of aging on upper limb function and dexterity will help differentiate between normal and pathological aging in upper extremity performance.