Long-term local vibrations affect skin oxygenation and motor nerve conduction in the arm of workers reporting wrist discomfort during computer mouse work

Physiology 2021 (2021) Proc Physiol Soc 48, PC076

Poster Communications: Long-term local vibrations affect skin oxygenation and motor nerve conduction in the arm of workers reporting wrist discomfort during computer mouse work

Ivana Potočnik1, Nejka Potočnik2

1 Medical faculty, University of Maribor, Maribor, Slovenia 2 Institute of Physiology, Medical faculty, University of Ljubljana, Ljubljana, Slovenia

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Introduction: Computer mouse work (CMW) is characterized by forced posture of the wrist causing discomfort, often resulting in carpal tunnel syndrome. Local vibration has been proposed as a promising strategy to avoid these adverse effects. Aim: The aim of our study was to evaluate the effect of regular local vibration of affected wrist on the median motor distal latency (t_lat), laser Doppler skin blood flow (LDF) and transcutaneous oxygen partial pressure (tcpO2) in computer workers reporting carpal discomfort during CMW. Methods: 10 secretaries aged 47±10 years with carpal discomfort during CMW were educated to use specially designed vibrator placed under the wrist of the working arm. With working arm on the computer mouse, LDF was measured (PeriFlux 6000) on glabrous (LDFg) and nonglabrous (LDFng) skin of vibrated and contralateral arm, tcpO2 was obtained distally and proximally from the vibration site and t_lat was assessed (PowerLab 2/26, AdInstruments) on working arm before and after four weeks of regular local vibration of working wrist for two hours a day during CMW (4WV). Results: No difference was found in LDF of glabrous as well as nonglabrous skin of vibrated (LDFg=199.38 (30.41) before and 205.33 (36.22) after; LDFng=8.56 (1.20) before and 6.61 (0.79) after) and contralateral arm (LDFg=234.97 (32.50) before and 238.34 (47.04) after; LDFng=6.46 (0.48) before and 7.90 (1.84) after; all in perfusion units) after 4WV compared to before. Distal to the vibration point tcpO2 was significantly greater after 4WV compared to before (45.28 (4.54) mmHg compared to 35.18 (2.66) mmHg, p<0.001) but no changes were obtained proximally (40.10 (6.49) mmHg compared to 38.70 (4.85) mmHg). t_lat was significantly decreased after 4WV (4.3 (0.2) ms compared to 5.2 (0.5) ms, p=0.003). Conclusion: Our results revealed that long term local vibrations improve the conduction of medial nerve motor branch and cutaneous oxygenation distal to local vibration site, however skin blood flow remains unaffected in glabrous as well as in nonglabrous skin. Local vibrations may be beneficial in prevention and treatment of posture-related patophysiological changes in CMW.



Where applicable, experiments conform with Society ethical requirements.

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