Estrategias de intervención fisioterapéutica en muñeca y mano para mejorar las respuestas sensoriales y funcionales en pacientes con neuropatía periférica diabética

Abstract

Diabetic peripheral neuropathy (DPN) is a pathology that affects both sensory and motor neurons, causing a decrease in sensitivity, nerve conduction velocity, as well as affecting hand dexterity and maximum grip strength. The aim of this study was to perform a physiotherapeutic intervention on the hand and wrist for 8 weeks to improve their sensory and functional responses. It was performed under a quantitative - analytical, prospective longitudinal approach, applying the evaluation instruments whose results were statistically analyzed by means of the SPSS program. For this purpose, 34 patients with NPD were required at the beginning, but only 17 were able to complete the 8 weeks of intervention. They were subjected to evaluations which consisted of assessing their sensory responses (tactile, thermal, vibratory, pressure and reflex sensitivity) and functional responses (maximum grip strength by dynamometry) before and after the intervention. The intervention consisted of resistance exercises to strengthen wrist and hand flexor and extensor muscles. The results showed that the individuals significantly im proved their grip strength compared to their initial state (p=0.000) there was also a significant improvement in the percentage of reflex evaluation (17.6% normal at the beginning - 76.5% at the end). The data obtained from the evaluation of sensitivity had positive results; however, the initial and final relationship was not significant (p=0.323). The findings showed that it wasxii demonstrated that. The intervention with physiotherapeutic exercise in wrist and hand served to improve sensory and functional responses in the population with NPD.