title: A new approach to motor unit estimation with surface EMG triggered averaging technique.
abstract: A new method for estimating the number of motor units using a surface EMG triggered averaging technique is described. This method provides an estimation of mean motor unit potential (MUP) amplitude at different levels of contraction, which can be utilized to estimate the number of motor units in a given muscle. Motor unit count estimated in abductor pollicis brevis (APB) muscle of 11 normal healthy subjects ranged from 131 to 371 with a mean of 246 +/- 68. In our preliminary study of patients with lower motor neuron lesions, there was a significant reduction in the number of motor units. We believe our new noninvasive method of motor unit counting is a relatively simple and reproducible physiological technique.
authors.affiliation: University of Illinois at Chicago, Department of Rehabilitation Medicine and Restorative Medical Sciences 60612, USA.
authors.forename: B T
authors.initials: BT
authors.lastname: Shahani
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Fang
authors.forename: U K
authors.initials: UK
authors.lastname: Dhand
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D002452:Cell Count; D004576:Electromyography / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005071:Evoked Potentials; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D016472:Motor Neuron Disease / Q000473:pathology; D009046:Motor Neurons / Q000166:cytology / Q000502:physiology*; D009119:Muscle Contraction / Q000502:physiology; D018482:Muscle, Skeletal / Q000166:cytology / Q000473:pathology / Q000502:physiology*; D012107:Research Design