Influence of age, height, gender on median and ulnar nerve conduction study

Abstract

Background: Nerve conduction studies (NCSs) is a test to measure the electrical activity in the nerve and used to measure nerve function disease progression. Physiological factors such as age, temperature, height, and gender are known to affect the nerve conduction velocity (NCV). Studies have reported different results with regard to these physiological factors affecting NCS. Aims and Objectives: To examine the influence of age, height, and gender on median and ulnar NCS. Materials and Methods: 103 healthy individuals of both sexes in the age group of 15-65 were included in the study. The neurophysiological study consisted of motor and sensory NCS of the ulnar nerve and median nerve using RMS EMG MKII equipment. Results: The correlation of age on the conduction velocities of median and ulnar nerve showed a significant negative correlation which suggests that as age advances the conduction velocity decreases. The correlation of height on the median and ulnar nerves did not show statistical significance. The influence of gender was analyzed using student t-test, in which the conduction velocities of median motor (P = 0.007), ulnar motor (P = 0.01), and sensory (P = 0.05) were faster in females compared to males. Conclusion: Age and gender have a significant role in influencing the nerve conduction parameters. We could not determine a definite relation of height and NCV. The present study adds substantial evidence that adjusting the nerve conduction parameters for physiological factors such as age and gender and will increase the diagnostic sensitivity and lays emphasis that an electrodiagnostic data should be created considering these variables.