EFFECT OF NEURAL TISSUE MOBILIZATION ON NERVE CONDUCTION, HAND DEXTERITY AND HAND GRIP STRENGTH IN YOUNG OLD POPULATION-AN EXPERIMENTAL STUDY

BACKGROUND: Aging leads to a progressive decline in physiological functions, affecting coordination, sensory processing, and musculoskeletal health. In India, the elderly population (60+) is expected to rise significantly, with those aged 70+ projected to increase from 27 million in 2001 to 132 million by 2050. A key age-related change is the decline in hand function due to muscle loss and reduced strength, particularly after 60 years. This study aimed to assess the effects of a 4-week neural tissue mobilization program on hand grip strength, nerve conduction, and dexterity in the 'young-old' population using the Jamar dynamometer, NCV test, and 9-hole peg board test. METHODOLOGY: The study included 25 subjects aged 60-75 years, with ethical clearance obtained. Participants were selected based on specific criteria and provided informed consent. Assessments included hand grip strength (Jamar dynamometer), dexterity (9-hole peg board test), and nerve conduction velocity (NCV apparatus). Neural tensioners were applied for 4 weeks, 3 times per week, with 6-8 oscillations, a 10-second hold, and 3 sets per nerve, allowing a 1-minute rest or until symptoms subsided. Pre- and post-intervention readings were recorded. RESULT: The study results showed significant post-intervention improvements in hand dexterity and grip strength, with slight enhancements in nerve conduction across all three nerves. The dominant hand exhibited greater improvement than the non-dominant hand. The findings suggest that neural tissue mobilization can effectively enhance grip strength, thereby improving dexterity and helping prevent hand function deterioration in the elderly. CONCLUSION: This study concludes that neural tissue mobilization effectively enhances hand grip strength and dexterity in the young-old population. However, no significant improvement was observed in nerve conduction. Keywords: Elderly, Grip strength, Dexterity, NCV, Neural tissue mobilization.