HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS		QUICK SEARCH:   [advanced] Author: Keyword(s): Year:  Vol:  Page:

This Article Full Text (PDF) Correspondence: Submit a response Alert me when this article is cited Alert me when Correspondence are posted Alert me if a correction is posted Services Email this article to a friend Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Citing Articles Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Soudmand, R. Articles by Swift, T. R. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Soudmand, R. Articles by Swift, T. R.

Effect of height on nerve conduction velocity

Departments of Neurology (Drs. Soudmand and Swift) and Psychiatry (Dr. Ward), Medical College of Georgia, Augusta, GA.

The effect of height on nerve conduction velocity (NCV) was studied in 41 normal subjects. Peroneal and sural NCV correlated inversely with height and with estimated axonal length, whereas median motor and sensory NCV failed to show any significant relationship to height. These findings are consistent with the hypothesis of abrupt distal axonal tapering in the lower extremities. Recognition of height effect in the legs is clinically significant, since diagnostic sensitivity of NCV determinations is improved when corrected for height differences. Multiple regression equations derived from the sample data allow satisfactory estimation of peroneal NCV, sural NCV, H-reflex latency, and F-wave latency from height (or axonal length), age, and other important predictors.

Address correspondence and reprint requests to Dr. Swift, EMG Laboratory, Medical College of Georgia, Augusta, GA 30912.

Supported in part by NIH—NINCDS Grant No. N01-NS-6-2340.

This work was presented in part at the thirty-third annual meeting of the American Academy of Neurology, Toronto, Canada, May 1981.

Accepted for publication September 21, 1981.