To investigate the effect of physical therapy on F-wave characteristics in a patient with cerebrovascular disease, we tested the relationship between F-wave waveforms and the recovery of voluntary movement on the affected side. We measured F-waves of affected thenar muscles after stimulating the affected median nerve at the wrist in a left hemiplegia patient (female, 60 years old) with cerebrovascular disease. We analysed the F/M amplitude ratio and Fwave waveform values from 30 trials. F-wave waveform values were determined as follows. We calculated the correlation coefficient of each waveform and defined identifying F-waves as those with a correlation coefficient greater than 0.9. We determined the number of different wave forms from the number of identifying waveforms. F-waves were tested three times at 9, 52, and 70 months from sideration. The patient underwent physical therapy twice a week, with each session lasting 20 min. The F/M amplitude ratio gradually decreased and the number of F-wave waveform types gradually increased. Muscle tonus and voluntary movements of the affected arm gradually improved with physical therapy. In this patient with cerebrovascular disease, F-wave waveform values in her affected arm gradually increased as muscle tonus and voluntary movements of the arm improved.

Purpose: The F-wave shows the excitability of spinal nerve function. There is prior study that it is normal to appear the various F-waves. However, there is no provision for a method of judging whether or not it is the same waveform. The purpose of this study is to find objective evaluation in comparing F-wave waveform.Method: Present 5 trials of 30 F-wave to 3 people who are engaged in F-wave for many years. We compared the results of visually selected waveform and correlation coefficient (hereafter CC) calculated by personal computer.Results: There were 2 F-waves that 3 people checked, the highest value of CC was 0.99, the lowest value of CC was 0.95. There were 10 F-waves that 2 peoples checked, the highest value of CC was 1.00, the lowest value of CC was 0.71. From the above, consistency of 0.95 or more correlation coefficient was recognized, except for one case. Conclusion:F-wave waveform analysis, criterion with a CC of 0.95 was made as a judgment of the same waveform. We think that waveform analysis become index for physical disability improvement in clinical scene and it will be an objective evaluation of influential physical therapy.