The magnetic stimulation of the brain and nerve root was performed on 27 normal healthy person and 17 patients with fifth lumbar radiculopathy. The motor evoked potentials were recorded bilaterally by surface electrodes applied to the tibialis anterior, peroneus longus, gastrocnemius, and abductor hallucis. Mean peripheral and central motor conduction time in tibialis anterior and peroneus longus was significantly prolonged in lesion side of patient group. This study was concluded that magnetic stimulation of the brain and nerve root is an effective and painless technique for the evaluation of nerve root lesion.

Keywords :Lumbar radiculopathy, Magnetic stimulation, Motor evoked potential