MUAP values of two facial muscles in normal subjects and comparison of two methods for data analysis.
BACKGROUND
This study aimed to obtain normal MUAP values in 2 facial muscles and to compare the results of different analysis methods.


METHODS
The frontalis muscle of 36 and the mentalis muscle of 28 normal subjects were examined, and mean and outlier values of all MUAP parameters were calculated with the automatic method. Next, manual editing of the recorded raw data provided new sets of values for comparison.


RESULTS
The frontalis muscle MUAPs have significantly shorter duration, smaller amplitude and a lower number of turns and phases compared with those of mentalis. Higher MUAP duration values in the frontalis were the only significant difference after the comparison of the different analysis methods.


CONCLUSIONS
The set of normal values for frontalis and mentalis in this study could be useful in routine practice. Careful manual editing of the frontalis MUAPs is recommended for more accurate determination of their duration.
Laboratory of Electromyography and Clinical Neurophysiology, Department of Neurology, Aeginition Hospital, University of Athens, 72-74 Vas. Sophias Ave. GR-11528, Athens, Greece. kpapag79@yahoo.gr
Aikaterini E
AE
Papagianni
Panagiotis
P
Kokotis
Thomas
T
Zambelis
Nikos
N
Karandreas
D000200:Action Potentials / Q000502:physiology*; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D004576:Electromyography; D005152:Facial Muscles / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009046:Motor Neurons / Q000502:physiology; D018482:Muscle, Skeletal / Q000502:physiology; D011999:Recruitment, Neurophysiological / Q000502:physiology; D012016:Reference Values; D012815:Signal Processing, Computer-Assisted