Field hockey players have different values of ulnar and tibial motor nerve conduction velocity than soccer and tennis players

Abstract

The aim of this study was to describe motor nerve conduction velocity in upper and lower extremities in sportsmen.
Fifteen high-level field hockey players, seventeen soccer players and ten tennis players were recruited from
the Polish National Field Hockey League, Polish Soccer League Clubs, and Polish Tennis Association clubs,
respectively. The control group comprised of seventeen healthy, non-active young men. Nerve conduction velocities
of ulnar and tibial nerve were assessed with NeuroScreen electromyograph (Toennies, Germany) equipped
with standard techniques of supramaximal percutaneus stimulation with constant current and surface electrodes.
No significant differences in motor nerve conduction velocities were found between dominant and non-dominant
limbs in each studied group. Ulnar nerve conduction velocity measured from above elbow to below elbow was
significantly lower only in the field hockey players’ dominant limb. Tibial conduction velocity of the field hockey
players’ non-dominant lower limb was higher in comparison to the tennis players and the control group. There
was no significant correlation between body mass and NCV as well as between height of subjects and NCV in both
athletes or non-athletes. A slight trend towards a lower TCV values in athletes with longer duration of practicing
sport was found. It was most pronounced in the non-dominant lower extremity of field hockey players.