Slane Josh, Timmerman Mark, Ploeg Heidi-Lynn, Thelen Darryl G
Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Wisconsin-Madison, United States.
Clin Biomech (Bristol). 2011 Jul;26(6):642-8. doi: 10.1016/j.clinbiomech.2011.03.003. Epub 2011 Mar 31.
Chronic ulnar nerve compression is believed to be the primary cause of sensory and motor impairments of the hand in cyclists, a condition termed Cyclist's Palsy. The purpose of this study was to quantitatively evaluate the effects that hand position and glove type can have on pressure over the ulnar nerve, specifically in the hypothenar region of the hand.
Thirty-six experienced cyclists participated. Subjects rode at a constant cadence and power output on a stationary bicycle with their hands in the tops, drops and hoods of a standard drop handlebar. A high resolution pressure mat was used to record hand pressure with no gloves, unpadded gloves, foam-padded gloves and gel-padded gloves. Wrist posture was simultaneously monitored with a motion capture system. Laser scans of the subject's hand were separately acquired to register pressure maps onto the hand anatomy.
Average peak hypothenar pressures of 134-165kPa were recorded when cyclists did not wear gloves. A drops hand position induced the greatest hypothenar pressure and most extended wrist posture. Padded gloves were able to reduce hypothenar pressure magnitudes by 10 to 28%, with slightly better pressure reduction achieved using thin foam padding.
The hand pressure magnitudes and loading patterns seen in steady-state cycling are of sufficient magnitude to induce ulnar nerve damage if maintained for long periods. Wearing padded gloves and changing hand position can reduce the magnitude and duration of loading patterns, which are both important to mitigate risk for Cyclist's Palsy during extended rides.
慢性尺神经受压被认为是自行车骑行者手部感觉和运动功能障碍的主要原因，这种情况被称为骑行者麻痹。本研究的目的是定量评估手部位置和手套类型对尺神经压力的影响，特别是在手的小鱼际区域。
36名经验丰富的自行车骑行者参与了研究。受试者在固定自行车上以恒定的踏频和功率输出骑行，手部处于标准弯把的上把位、下把位和手变位置。使用高分辨率压力垫记录不戴手套、无衬垫手套、泡沫衬垫手套和凝胶衬垫手套时的手部压力。同时用运动捕捉系统监测手腕姿势。分别获取受试者手部的激光扫描图像，以便将压力图映射到手部解剖结构上。
骑行者不戴手套时，小鱼际平均峰值压力为134 - 165kPa。下把位手部姿势会导致最大的小鱼际压力和最伸展的手腕姿势。衬垫手套能够将小鱼际压力幅度降低10%至28%，使用薄泡沫衬垫时压力降低效果稍好。
在稳态骑行中观察到的手部压力大小和负荷模式，如果长期保持，足以导致尺神经损伤。佩戴衬垫手套和改变手部位置可以降低负荷模式的大小和持续时间，这对于在长时间骑行中减轻骑行者麻痹的风险都很重要。
