Affiliations: Department of Physical Therapy, Eastern Washington
University, Spokane, WA, USA | Department of Occupational and Environmental Health,
College of Public Health, The University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA, USA | Department of Environmental and Radiological Health
Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, Colorado
State University, Fort Collins, CO, USA
Note: [] Corresponding author: Dan Anton, Department of Physical Therapy,
Eastern Washington University, 310 N. Riverpoint Blvd, Box T, Spokane, WA
99202-1625, USA. Tel.: +1 509 828 1375; Fax: +1 509 828 1389; E-mail: dan.anton@ewu.edu
Abstract: BACKGROUND: Carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) is commonly diagnosed with
a combination of characteristic symptoms and nerve conduction studies (NCS)
across the wrist. Normative NCS values exist, but there is minimal data among
older individuals or among rural populations. OBJECTIVE: To estimate distal median and ulnar sensory, and median motor latencies across the wrist in
an older, rural population. METHODS: Hand symptom questionnaires and
three standard NCS were obtained from 1085 participants. Univariate and
multiple linear regression analyses were conducted. RESULTS: Normative NCS values are presented from participants (mean age 57 years) who reported
either no CTS symptoms or possible CTS symptoms. Covariates associated with NCS
included age, hand temperature, body mass index, and height. CONCLUSIONS: This large normative NCS data set can be generalized to
an older and rural population. Nerve conduction latencies were generally longer
in this population than those reported in previous studies.
Keywords: Rural, nerve conduction, normal data, carpal tunnel syndrome, ergonomics
