Averaged F-wave conduction velocity of peroneal nerve

Median nerve F-wave latencies recorded from the abductor pollicis brevis

This study was performed to create a normative database for median nerve F-wave responses for a large subject population so normal ranges could be created for subsets of the general population and the effect of various physical characteristics on F-wave results could be determined. One hundred ninety-five asymptomatic subjects without risk factors for neuropathy were recruited. Ten consecutive supramaximal stimuli were applied to the wrists of each arm to obtain median nerve F-wave results. The shortest F-wave latency (Fmin), mean latency (Fmean), range of latencies (Frange), and number of stimuli that resulted in F-wave recordings (Fpersist) were recorded. An analysis of variance revealed that age, gender, and height were associated with different results for Fmin and Fmean. For all subjects taken together, the mean Fmin was 26.8 +/- 2.4 ms. The mean Fmean was 28.3 +/- 2.6 ms, and the mean Frange was 3.4 +/- 1.9 ms. Five or more F-waves were elicited in 94% of the subjects. The mean side-to-side difference in Fmin was 0.2 +/- 1.2 ms. Additional findings are presented in the article.

Tibial nerve F-waves recorded from the abductor hallucis

The purpose of this study was to develop a large database of normal values for the tibial nerve F-wave. A total of 159 asymptomatic subjects without risk factors for neuropathy were recruited and had ten tibial F-waves performed on each leg. Data were collected for the shortest F-wave (Fmin), the mean F-wave (Fmean), and the range of F-waves (Frange). Age, gender, and height were associated with differences in the results. The mean Fmin was 50.8 +/- 5.3 ms. Mean Fmean was 53.0 +/- 5.6 ms and mean Frange was 4.5 +/- 2.4 ms. The mean side-to-side difference for Fmin was 0.6 +/- 2.3 ms and the mean side-to-side difference for Fmean was 0.4 +/- 2.5 ms.

Ulnar nerve F-wave latencies recorded from the abductor digiti minimi

This study was performed to create a large database of normal values for the ulnar F-wave study and to investigate the effect of various demographic factors on F-wave results. The study was designed to incorporate a standard distance measure and temperature control, which are lacking in some previous studies. One hundred ninety-three asymptomatic volunteers without risk factors for neuropathy were recruited and had ten F-waves performed on each arm. Data were collected for the shortest F-wave (Fmin), mean F-wave (Fmean), the number of F-waves present out of ten stimuli (Fpersist), and the range of latencies (Frange). An analysis of variance statistical procedure was applied, and the Fmin and Fmean were found to correlate with age, gender, and height, although the gender effect was relatively weak. For all subjects taken together, the mean Fmin was 26.5 +/- 2.5 ms. The Fmean was 27.7 +/- 2.5 ms, and the mean Frange was 2.6 +/- 1.2 ms. Ninety-seven percent of subjects had an Fpersist of five or more. Mean side-to-side difference for Fmin was 0.2 +/- 1.1 ms.

Peroneal nerve F-wave latencies recorded from the extensor digitorum brevis

This study was performed to create a large database of normal peroneal F-wave latencies. A total of 180 subjects were tested bilaterally and had their shortest (Fmin), mean (Fmean), and latency range (Frange) of F-waves recorded. The number of F-waves present out of ten stimuli (Fpersist) was also recorded. Demographic characteristics were noted and an analysis of variance was performed to determine whether any of these characteristics were associated with different results for the F-wave measures. Age and height, and, to a lesser extent, gender correlated with differences in Fmin, and Fmean, but not Frange. Race and body mass index (weight divided by height squared) were not associated with any differences in results. The mean Fmin was 50.2 +/- 5.5 ms. Mean Fmean was 52.0 +/- 5.6 ms and mean Frange was 4.9 +/- 2.3 ms. Median Fpersist was between 5 and 6. Mean side-to-side difference for Fmin was 0.7 +/- 2.4 ms. All other results are provided in the article. This article presents a database for normal values and the upper limits of normal for Fmin, Fmean, Frange, and side-to-side differences. A low Fpersist does not seem particularly clinically useful for the peroneal nerve, although a high Fpersist seems to be a sign of normality.