PERFORMING MOTOR AND SENSORY NEURONAL CONDUCTION STUDIES IN ADULT HUMANS U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES Public Health Service Centers for Disease Control National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health Division of Safety Research September 1990DISCLAIMER Mention of the name of any company or product does not constitute endorsement by the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health. Project Officers: David E. Nestor, PT, MS Research Physical Therapist Roger M. Nelson, PT, PhD Research Physical Therapist COPYING IS ENCOURAGED ‘The information contained in this publication is in the public domain. Copies may be freely made and distributed. DHHS (NIOSH) Publication No. 90-113PREFACE ‘The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, Division of Safety Research is attempting to standardize the assessment methods used to define occupational safety and health hazards from physical trauma. Therefore, the standardized procedures offered in this document are suggested guidelines for the performance of routine, nerve conduction studies of selected peripheral nerves in adult humans. These guidelines should serve as a starting point for electrophysiologic assessment procedures for evaluating common motor and sensory neuronal conduction disorders encountered inthe workplace. These procedures can be used to objectively assess the motor and sensory neuronal conduction status of adult workers subjected to cumulative trauma, toxic substances, etc. that may cause acute or chronic neuromuscular disorders. Unusual and unique problems require sound, creative modification of the standard procedures to assess the problem, This manual is the result of three working group meetings conducted over a two and one-half year period. The working group consisted of neurophysiologists, therapists, physicians, and allied health professionals recognized for their expertise in electrophysiologic assessment of neuromuscular disorders, The manual represents a consensus opinion of this working group. Industrial engineers, human factors engineers, medical practitioners, allied health professionals, and researchers conducting ergonomic assessment of the workplace can use these standardized proce- dures. The purpose of this manual is to provide technical performance guidelines for assessing the peripheral neuromuscular system of workers. These technical procedures may be used in both job- site evaluations and in research protocols.