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Differences in the recruitment curves obtained with monopolar and bipolar electrode configurations in the quadriceps femoris
Author(s) -
RodriguezFalces Javier,
Place Nicolas
Publication year - 2016
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/mus.25006
Subject(s) - vastus medialis , stimulus (psychology) , amplitude , stimulation , motor unit , femoral nerve , intensity (physics) , electromyography , anatomy , biomedical engineering , medicine , physics , physical medicine and rehabilitation , optics , psychology , psychotherapist
We sought to verify whether the stimulation intensity at which M‐wave amplitude reaches a plateau actually corresponds to full motor unit activation in monopolar and bipolar configurations. Methods M‐waves and twitches were evoked using femoral nerve stimulation of gradually increasing intensity in 21 subjects. Recruitment curves corresponding to the amplitude of the first phase (Ampli FIRST ) and peak‐to‐peak amplitude (Ampli PP ) of the M‐wave were obtained in the vastus lateralis, vastus medialis, and rectus femoris in monopolar and bipolar configurations. Results In all muscles, bipolar M‐waves and twitches reached plateau at a significantly lower stimulus intensity compared with monopolar M‐waves ( P < 0.05). The different behavior of monopolar and bipolar M‐waves with stimulus intensity was found for both Ampli FIRST and Ampli PP . Conclusions In a bipolar configuration, the stimulus intensity at which M‐waves plateau should be increased by at least 10%–20% to achieve complete motor unit recruitment. Muscle Nerve 54 : 118–131, 2016