Normal Values of Central, Peripheral, and Root Motor Conduction Times in a Healthy Korean Population

Central, peripheral, and root motor conduction times (CMCTs, PMCTs, and RMCTs, respectively) are valuable diagnostic tools for spinal cord and motor nerve root lesions. We investigated the normal values and the effects of age and height on each motor conduction time.

This study included 190 healthy Korean subjects who underwent magnetic stimulation of the cortex and spinous processes at the C7 and L1 levels. Recording muscles were abductor pollicis brevis and abductor digiti minimi in the unilateral upper limb and extensor digitorum brevis and abductor hallucis in the contralateral lower limb. F-wave and compound motor nerve action potentials were also recorded. Central motor conduction time was evaluated as the difference between cortical motor evoked potential onset latency and PMCT using calculation and spinal stimulation methods. Root motor conduction time was computed as the difference between spinal stimulated and calculated CMCTs.

The average age and height of the participants were 41.21 ± 14.39 years and 164.64 ± 8.27 cm, respectively; 39.5% (75/190) patients were men. In the linear regression analyses, upper limb CMCTs showed a significant and weak positive relationship with height. Lower limb CMCTs demonstrated a significant and weak positive relationship with age and height. Peripheral motor conduction times were significantly and positively correlated with age and height. Root motor conduction times showed no significant relationship with age and height, except for abductor pollicis brevis-RMCT, which had a weak negative correlation with height.

This study provides normal values of CMCTs, PMCTs, and RCMTs, which have potential clinical applications. When interpreting CMCTs, age and height should be considered.