EP. 071: Nerves Under Pressure - A Deep Dive into Entrapment Neuropathies with Annina Schmid

In this episode of the PhysioTutors podcast, Dr. Annina Schmid, a specialist in musculoskeletal physiotherapy and a professor of pain neurosciences at Oxford University, discusses entrapment neuropathies, focusing on conditions like carpal tunnel syndrome and cubital tunnel syndrome. She explains that these conditions occur when nerves are compressed or irritated as they pass through narrow anatomical spaces, leading to symptoms such as pain, tingling, numbness, and sometimes motor changes like weakness. The conversation covers common types of entrapment neuropathies, diagnostic challenges, and distinctions between peripheral and nerve root entrapment. Dr. Schmid emphasizes the importance of pattern recognition, detailed patient assessment, and understanding the anatomical and neurological aspects of each case. Dr. Schmid also delves into the importance of deep clinical phenotyping and precision physiotherapy, highlighting the need for detailed understanding of patient presentations and individualized treatment approaches. She discusses the potential benefits and mechanisms of neurodynamic treatments and other interventions, stressing that education and managing patient expectations are crucial. The discussion touches on the role of advanced imaging techniques like ultra-high field MRI in diagnosing and treating entrapment neuropathies, and the significance of surgical intervention in severe cases. The episode concludes with Dr. Schmid's takeaways for clinicians, emphasizing the need for careful diagnosis, patient education, and innovative research approaches.   Content 00:00 Intro 00:48 What are entrapment neuropathies? 01:48 Typical presentations 02:45 Does Piriformis syndrome exist? 05:10 Causes and Riskfactors of PNE 07:23 Differential diagnosis 13:00 How reliable is dermatome examination 15:25 What is Deep Clinical Phenotyping? 20:20 What is Precision Physiotherapy? 24:37 Effects of Neurodynamics 26:49 Effectiveness of other Interventions 31:35 Interface treatment 34:40 When to refer for surgery 36:48 Nerve repair 41:25 Ultra High Field MRI Explained 44:48 Three Take Aways 47:03 Annina's Closing Thoughts 48:13 Contact Info 49:39 Outro   Bonus Material Download the referenced transcript including PubMed Links and a high-resolution infographic on this episode as part of your Physiotutors membership on the Physiotutors App. Download the Free App now   Follow our Podcast on: Spotify | Apple Podcasts