Warming nerves for excitability testing

Maria O Kovalchuk, Hessel Franssen, Féline E V Scheijmans, Leonard J van Schelven, Leonard H van den Berg, Boudewijn T H M Sleutjes

Research output: Contribution to journalArticleAcademicpeer-review

Abstract

Introduction: The aim of this study was to find the best method of warming the median nerve before excitability testing to a standard temperature. Methods: In 5 healthy subjects, the forearm and hand were warmed for 1 h to 37°C by infrared lamp, water blanket, or water bath. Recordings were performed before and during warming every 10 min. Excitability indices were fitted by exponential relations, thereby calculating the time needed to reach 95% of their asymptotic end value. Results: Distal motor latency, refractory period, and superexcitability at 10 ms changed exponentially with time. Warming by water bath took the shortest time (24 min); this was followed by warming by infrared lamp (34 min) and water blanket (35 min). Conclusions: Warming by water bath is the quickest way. The other methods took only moderately more time. Future studies need to specify both warming method and warming time before excitability testing. Muscle Nerve, 2019.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)279-285
Number of pages7
JournalMuscle & Nerve
Volume60
Issue number3
Early online date26 Jun 2019
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - Sept 2019

Keywords

  • excitability
  • infrared lamp
  • temperature
  • warming
  • water bath
  • water blanket

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