Motor unit tracking with high-density surface EMG. 2008

Ellen M Maathuis, and Judith Drenthen, and Johannes P van Dijk, and Gerhard H Visser, and Joleen H Blok
Department of Clinical Neurophysiology, Erasmus MC, University Medical Center Rotterdam, P.O. Box 2040, 3000 CA Rotterdam, The Netherlands.

Following (tracking) individual motor units over time can provide important new insights, both into the relationships among various motor unit (MU) morphological and functional properties and into how these properties are influenced by neuromuscular disorders or interventions. The present study aimed to determine whether high-density surface EMG (HD-sEMG) recordings, which use an array of surface electrodes over a muscle, can increase the yield of MU tracking studies in terms of the number of MUs that can be tracked. For that purpose, four HD-sEMG recording sessions were performed on the thenar muscles of ten healthy subjects. Decomposition of the recorded composite responses yielded a study total of 2849 motor unit action potentials (MUAPs). MUAPs that were found in both of the first two sessions, performed on the same day, were defined as trackable MUAPs. Our results show that 22 (median value; range, 13-34) MUAPs per nerve were trackable, which represented approximately 5% of the total MU population. Of these trackable MUAPs, 16 (11-26) could also be found in one or both of the third and fourth sessions, which were performed between 1 and 13 weeks after the initial studies. Nine (4-18) MUAPs were found in all four sessions. Many of the characteristic MUAP shapes matched well between sessions, even when these sessions were several weeks apart. However, some MUAPs seem very sensitive to changes in arm position or in the muscle's morphology (e.g., to changes in muscle fiber length due to variable degrees of thumb flexion or extension), particularly those from larger and/or superficial MUs. Standardization is, therefore, essential to detect even small MUAP changes, as may occur with pathology or interventions. If this is accomplished, MU tracking with HD-sEMG may prove to be a powerful tool for a promising type of neurophysiological investigation.

UI MeSH Term Description Entries
D008297 Male Males
D008875 Middle Aged An adult aged 45 - 64 years. Middle Age
D009046 Motor Neurons Neurons which activate MUSCLE CELLS. Neurons, Motor,Alpha Motorneurons,Motoneurons,Motor Neurons, Alpha,Neurons, Alpha Motor,Alpha Motor Neuron,Alpha Motor Neurons,Alpha Motorneuron,Motoneuron,Motor Neuron,Motor Neuron, Alpha,Motorneuron, Alpha,Motorneurons, Alpha,Neuron, Alpha Motor,Neuron, Motor
D004576 Electromyography Recording of the changes in electric potential of muscle by means of surface or needle electrodes. Electromyogram,Surface Electromyography,Electromyograms,Electromyographies,Electromyographies, Surface,Electromyography, Surface,Surface Electromyographies
D005260 Female Females
D006801 Humans Members of the species Homo sapiens. Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man
D000200 Action Potentials Abrupt changes in the membrane potential that sweep along the CELL MEMBRANE of excitable cells in response to excitation stimuli. Spike Potentials,Nerve Impulses,Action Potential,Impulse, Nerve,Impulses, Nerve,Nerve Impulse,Potential, Action,Potential, Spike,Potentials, Action,Potentials, Spike,Spike Potential
D000328 Adult A person having attained full growth or maturity. Adults are of 19 through 44 years of age. For a person between 19 and 24 years of age, YOUNG ADULT is available. Adults
D013223 Statistics as Topic Works about the science and art of collecting, summarizing, and analyzing data that are subject to random variation. Area Analysis,Estimation Technics,Estimation Techniques,Indirect Estimation Technics,Indirect Estimation Techniques,Multiple Classification Analysis,Service Statistics,Statistical Study,Statistics, Service,Tables and Charts as Topic,Analyses, Area,Analyses, Multiple Classification,Area Analyses,Classification Analyses, Multiple,Classification Analysis, Multiple,Estimation Technic, Indirect,Estimation Technics, Indirect,Estimation Technique,Estimation Technique, Indirect,Estimation Techniques, Indirect,Indirect Estimation Technic,Indirect Estimation Technique,Multiple Classification Analyses,Statistical Studies,Studies, Statistical,Study, Statistical,Technic, Indirect Estimation,Technics, Estimation,Technics, Indirect Estimation,Technique, Estimation,Technique, Indirect Estimation,Techniques, Estimation,Techniques, Indirect Estimation

Related Publications

Ellen M Maathuis, and Judith Drenthen, and Johannes P van Dijk, and Gerhard H Visser, and Joleen H Blok
November 2013, IEEE transactions on neural systems and rehabilitation engineering : a publication of the IEEE Engineering in Medicine and Biology Society,
Ellen M Maathuis, and Judith Drenthen, and Johannes P van Dijk, and Gerhard H Visser, and Joleen H Blok
January 2009, Supplements to Clinical neurophysiology,
Ellen M Maathuis, and Judith Drenthen, and Johannes P van Dijk, and Gerhard H Visser, and Joleen H Blok
October 2022, Clinical neurophysiology : official journal of the International Federation of Clinical Neurophysiology,
Ellen M Maathuis, and Judith Drenthen, and Johannes P van Dijk, and Gerhard H Visser, and Joleen H Blok
August 2020, Journal of electromyography and kinesiology : official journal of the International Society of Electrophysiological Kinesiology,
Ellen M Maathuis, and Judith Drenthen, and Johannes P van Dijk, and Gerhard H Visser, and Joleen H Blok
August 2008, Journal of electromyography and kinesiology : official journal of the International Society of Electrophysiological Kinesiology,
Ellen M Maathuis, and Judith Drenthen, and Johannes P van Dijk, and Gerhard H Visser, and Joleen H Blok
February 2009, Muscle & nerve,
Ellen M Maathuis, and Judith Drenthen, and Johannes P van Dijk, and Gerhard H Visser, and Joleen H Blok
May 2015, IEEE transactions on bio-medical engineering,
Ellen M Maathuis, and Judith Drenthen, and Johannes P van Dijk, and Gerhard H Visser, and Joleen H Blok
September 2004, Muscle & nerve,
Ellen M Maathuis, and Judith Drenthen, and Johannes P van Dijk, and Gerhard H Visser, and Joleen H Blok
June 1997, Electroencephalography and clinical neurophysiology,
Ellen M Maathuis, and Judith Drenthen, and Johannes P van Dijk, and Gerhard H Visser, and Joleen H Blok
February 2024, Scientific reports,
Copied contents to your clipboard!