SOMATOSENSORY-EVOKED POTENTIALS IN ATHLETES

We measured somatosensory-evoked potentials in athletes to determine w hether there were differences in somatosensory pathways related to spo rts performance or training. Seven sedentary subjects, 10 endurance ru nners, and seven elite gymnasts of similar height and weight were inve stigated. peak latencies and amplitudes were measured of P9, P11, P13/ 14, N20, P25, and N30 waves, following electrical stimulation of the m edian nerve at the wrist. Central and peripheral conduction speeds of the sensory pathway were calculated. The subjects also completed a sim ple reaction test to a visual stimulus. There were no significant diff erences between the groups in any of the attributes we measured. There was a positive correlation between years of training undergone and th e amplitude of N20, a negative correlation between the amplitudes of P 11 and P13/14 and the number of hours of training undertaken per week, and a positive correlation between the amplitude of N30 and the simpl e visual reaction time. We conclude that the gymnasts, runners and sed entary subjects had no differences in somatosensory pathways, as measu red using standard clinical procedures for evaluating somatosensory-ev oked potentials.