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Surface electromyography using electrode arrays: A study of motor neuron disease
Author(s) -
Wood S.M.,
Jarratt J.A.,
Barker A.T.,
Brown B.H.
Publication year - 2001
Publication title -
muscle and nerve
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.025
H-Index - 145
eISSN - 1097-4598
pISSN - 0148-639X
DOI - 10.1002/1097-4598(200102)24:2<223::aid-mus70>3.0.co;2-7
Subject(s) - electromyography , reinnervation , motor unit , biomedical engineering , neurophysiology , electrode , motor neuron , motor unit recruitment , electrophysiology , multielectrode array , physical medicine and rehabilitation , medicine , materials science , anatomy , neuroscience , disease , chemistry , microelectrode , psychology , pathology
The use of electromyography (EMG) is limited, particularly in the investigation of children, by the invasive nature of needle electrodes. Surface electrode techniques are an attractive alternative but the detected signals are greatly influenced by volume conductor effects, thus making their interpretation problematic. Using finite element analysis we investigated the relationship between surface potential distribution and motor unit depth, incorporating anisotropic conductivity to model muscle tissue and a range of subcutaneous fat thicknesses. The modeling results were used to analyze data recorded with a 16‐channel surface electrode array, from 10 normals subjects and 12 patients with motor neuron disease. Differences in the motor units between the two groups were statistically significant ( P < 0.01) and are consistent with reinnervation and increased motor unit territory in the patient group. This noninvasive technique shows promise as a more acceptable alternative to the use of conventional needle electrodes for neurophysiological investigations. © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Muscle Nerve 24: 223–230, 2001