F-wave studies on the deep peroneal nerve. Part 1. Control subjects.

An electrophysiological method is described for estimating the conduction velocity in the proximal segments (anterior horn cells to the knee) of the motor fibres of the deep peroneal nerve. The method utilizes large numbers of F-waves which are late muscle responses due to antidromically activated motoneurones. The results in 58 healthy subjects are presented. A detailed literature review concerning the nature of F-wave is presented.