title: Physical activity: its influence on nerve conduction velocity.
abstract: In a group of 40 healthy subjects, distal and proximal latencies of the median, tibial, and peroneal motor, and sural sensory nerves and their respective skin surface temperatures (Tsk) were measured before and after walking or bicycling. The baseline tests were performed 30 minutes after resting in a constant room temperature of 24C. The ambulation or bicycling task was continued for 30 minutes at a constant rate. Postactivity tests were performed within 30 minutes and between 45 to 60 minutes after termination of activity. Another test was done 75 to 90 minutes after bicycle exercise. After walking, there was a significant increase in Tsk in all lower extremity nerves tested (p less than 0.01). The increases were accompanied by faster distal and proximal latencies in both testing periods (p less than 0.01). Median nerve Tsk, distal and proximal latencies did not differ significantly from baseline values initially, but 45 minutes after walking Tsk was elevated and proximal latency had become faster (p less than 0.01). Following bicycling, lower extremity Tsk was significantly reduced over tibial, peroneal, and sural nerves by the third testing period (p less than 0.01) but only sural latencies were significantly prolonged (p less than 0.05) by this time. In the upper extremities median Tsk was significantly elevated and distal latency had become significantly faster 45 minutes after bicycling. Our data suggest that activity significantly influences nerve conduction latency results due to tissue temperature alteration. In addition, 30 minutes of rest after activity may not be sufficient time for the lower extremity temperatures to become stable.
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008475:Median Nerve / Q000502:physiology; D008875:Middle Aged; D009431:Neural Conduction; D010543:Peroneal Nerve / Q000502:physiology; D005082:Physical Exertion; D011930:Reaction Time; D012881:Skin Temperature; D013127:Spinal Nerves / Q000502:physiology*; D013497:Sural Nerve / Q000502:physiology; D013979:Tibial Nerve / Q000502:physiology