The effect of H‐wave therapy upon conduction in the human superficial radial nerve in vivo

Abstract

This study was designed to investigate the putative neurophysiological effects of so-called 'H-wave therapy' (HWT), a form of electrical stimulation, upon conduction latencies in the human superficial radial nerve. Antidromic compound action potentials were recorded from the superficial radial nerve in the dominant forearms of thirty-two healthy human volunteers, who were randomly assigned to a control or one. of three HWT groups (2, 16 or 60 Hz). HWT was applied under double-blind conditions for three consecutive 5 min periods. Action potentials were recorded pre-HWT and immediately after each period of stimulation, i.e. at 5, 10 and 15 min. Analysis of results showed significant increases in negative and positive peak latencies in the 16 Hz and, to a greater extent, in the 60 Hz groups when compared with controls. No changes in conduction latency were observed in the low frequency 2 Hz group. The results of this study demonstrate that HWT applied at frequencies of 16 and 60 Hz may produce a direct, localized effect upon conduction in underlying peripheral nerves.