Radial nerve F-wave reference values with surface electrodes from the anconeus muscle

INTRODUCTION: We aimed to obtain normative values for radial nerve F-wave parameters, recording with surface electrodes from the anconeus muscle. METHODS: We tested 30 healthy subjects (17 females, 13 males) and measured the following parameters: number of F-waves/40 traces (F%), minimum, maximum and mean F-wave latency (FMIN, FMAX, FMED), F-wave chronodispersion (FCHR), inter-side difference of F% and FMIN (DF%, DFMIN). RESULTS: The mean F% was 41.3%; the normative values of FMIN, FMED, FMAX and FCHR were <21.2 ms, <22.1 ms, <23.3 ms and <4.0 ms, respectively, and those of DF% and DFMIN were <16.6% and <1.1 ms. Height was the sole independent predictor in a regression model of FMIN, FMED, and FMAX, explaining 37% to 44% of the variability. DISCUSSION: we identified a feasible and useful technique to record radial nerve F-waves from the anconeus muscle and obtained normative values of F-wave parameters. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.