Median and ulnar nerve conduction studies: normative data for young adults

Abstract

Temperature control and standardized technique, along with consideration of age, height, finger circumference, and instrumentation is imperative for appropriate interpretation of electrodiagnostic studies. Normative data must be based on these factors in adequate numbers of healthy subjects. This study provides comprehensive normative electrodiagnostic data for the median and ulnar nerves. Forty-four subjects participated in this study. The median motor studies showed a motor distal latency (DL) of 3.2 (0.4)msec, and distal amplitude (DAMP) of 12.1 (3.8)mV and sensory studies showed a DL of 2.5 (0.2)msec, and DAMP of 31.4 (8.7) microV for the men and 52.4 (14.3)microV for the women. The ulnar motor studies showed a motor DL of 2.6 (0.3)msec, and DAMP of 12.6 (2.3)mV and sensory studies showed a DL of 2.4 (0.2)msec, and DAMP of 27.0 (7.8)microV for the men and 52.9 (13.9)microV for the women. Sidedness and handedness did not affect the nerve conduction parameters of this study. Aging changes for these nerves were minimal but more apparent for the median nerve. The most noticeable change with aging was the decrease in amplitude of the sensory nerve action potential.