Publication:

The F waves study in young healthy individuals

Background The F wave is a CMAP (compound muscle action potential) evoked by a supramaximal stimulation of a motor nerve. F waves are particularly useful for the diagnoses of polyneuropathies at an early stage and proximal nerve lesions.

Methods Healthy males (n=64) and females (n=26) medical students of BPKIHS with age 20 to 24 years were enrolled. Anthropometric parameters; F wave latencies, persistence and chronodispersion of bilateral median, ulnar and tibial nerves were recorded in Neurophysiology Lab II of BPKIHS. Descriptive analysis was done.

Results Mean age, height and weight of the subjects were 21.64±1.19 years, 165.61±5.4cms and 64.07±5.5kg. Mean minimum F wave latencies (ms) of right median, ulnar and tibial nerves were 24.09±1.95, 24.02±1.76, 44.34±3.02 while on the left side were 23.92±1.96, 24.11±1.92, 44.07±2.83 respectively. F persistence was above 80%. F chronodispersion (ms) for right and left median, ulnar and tibial nerves were 2.77±0.70, 2.79±0.65, 2.71±0.67, 2.80±0.56, 3.48±0.73 and 3.45±0.64 respectively.

Conclusions Maximum and minimum F wave latencies, F chronodispersion and F persistence were derived for both sexes in an age group of 20-24 years.