Rehabilitation for Ulnar Nerve Palsy

The ulnar nerve is what creates the shock-like sensation when you hit the funny bone in your elbow. You may lose sensation and have muscle weakness in your hand if you damage your ulnar nerve. This is known as ulnar nerve palsy or ulnar neuropathy.

Ulnar nerve entrapment at the elbow (Cubital Tunnel Syndrome) and wrist (Guyon’s Canal Syndrome) occurs due to repetitive compression, from leaning on the elbows or wrists (cyclist’s palsy) and prolonged elbow flexion. It can also occur from trauma, swelling, fractures, and vascular and bony pathologies/abnormalities.

The symptoms associated with ulnar nerve palsy include:

• A loss of sensation in your hand, especially in your ring and little fingers.

• loss of coordination in your fingers.

• A tingling or burning sensation in your hand.

• Pain.

• Hand weakness may get worse with physical activity.

• A loss of grip strength.

Treatment for ulnar nerve entrapment depends on how severe the entrapment is.

For less severe cases, a doctor will probably recommend non-surgical treatment options first. These may include exercises of physical therapy (hand therapy exercises) to help the nerve slide through the arm correctly.

Home rehabilitation using rehabilitation equipment is becoming more and more common among Ulnar Nerve Palsy patients nowadays.  

To successfully accomplish these hand therapy exercises, the patient may need a professional robotic glove that will effectively help him achieve positive improvement in less time.

The robotic glove mobilizes finger joints and works both in flexion and extension. Even on a patient who has no active residual movement, it is possible to apply passive mobilization from the first stages of treatment.

What is also exciting about this robotic glove is that its software offers many possibilities for the customization of the therapy.

Furthermore, the Portable Rehabilitation Robotic Gloves: SIFREHAB-1.0 would amplify force in the direction the user tries to move (open or close fingers). In this way, it will restore the normal function as it will help it slide through the arm correctly.

The hand therapy device can also provide resistance in the opposite direction to help the user with movement stabilization or muscle tone exercise. The design could be implemented for a wide range of users and needs, particularly those patients who suffer from Ulnar Nerve Palsy.

SIFREHAB-1.0 and SIFREHAB-1.1 are home rehabilitation equipment that offers low-cost, safe, intensive, and task-oriented rehabilitation through hand therapy exercises.

These activities can help boost patients’ quick recovery as they will help them perform their daily-living-activity functions at home. As such, patients will be encouraged to buy these rehabilitation gloves to gain their independence.

Reference: Ulnar Nerve Palsy (Dysfunction)