Peripheral Nerve Disorders

Peripheral nerve disorders are common neurologic conditions affecting the peripheral nervous system. The causes of damage can be traumatic, genetic, metabolic, nutritional, autoimmune, and infection-, drug-, or environmental toxicity-induced. Motor and sensory impairments encountered in these conditions are major contributors to alterations in balance and gait pattern, increasing the risk of falling. Therapeutic exercises and the judicious use of orthotic devices are effective rehabilitation approaches that can improve muscle strength and postural reactions, thus improving functional balance and gait. The topics under this chapter include a general introduction, historical background, pathological and electrophysiological changes, classifications, features, and management of mononeuropathies and inherited, immune-mediated, metabolic, nutritional, toxic, chemotherapy-induced, and infectious neuropathies.