Turkish Journal of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation 2011 , Vol 57 , Num 4

The Effect of Straight Leg Raising Test on Tibial F-wave Parameters in a Group of Healthy Volunteers

Zafer Günendi 1 ,Gülçin Kaymak Karataş 2 ,Zelal Keleş 1
1 Gazi Üniversitesi Tıp Fakültesi, Fiziksel Tıp ve Rehabilitasyon Anabilim Dalı, Ankara, Türkiye
2 Ankara Gazi Üniversitesi Tıp Fakültesi, Fiziksel Tıp ve Rehabilitasyon Anabilim Dalı, Ankara, Türkiye
DOI : 10.4274/tftr.30085

Objective: The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of the straight leg raising test on tibial nerve F-wave parameters in healthy volunteers. 

 

Materials and Method: Thirty-seven healthy volunteers (13 males, 24 females) with a mean age of 34.5±9.8 years were included in the study. Tibial nerve F-wave studies were performed on the right side while subjects were lying in supine position with hip joint in neutral position and after straight leg raising with 90° hip flexion. Minimal latency (Fmin), maximal latency (Fmax) and chronodispersion of F-wave were measured  in both practices.

 

Results: The mean Fmin was 43.56±3.91 msec at neutral position and 44.11±3.73 msec at 90° flexion. The mean Fmin was significantly increased after straight leg raising (p=0.026). The mean Fmax scores before and after straight leg rising were 48.31±4.40 msec and 48.42±4.02 msec, respectively. There was no significant difference in Fmax between the two positions (p=0.625). The mean chronodispersion values for neutral position and 90° flexion were 4.85±1.16 msec and 4.31±1.48 msec, respectively. The difference between the two positions was statistically significant (p=0.048).

 

Conclusion: This study showed that the strain of the lumbosacral nerve roots caused an increase in Fmin and a decrease in F chronodispersion of tibial nerve in healthy subjects. These findings might be useful in electrophysiological assessment of patients with L5-S1 radiculopathies.

Keywords : F-wave, straight leg raising test, radiculopathy