QUANTITATIVE ELECTROMYOGRAPHIC CHANGES ASSOCIATED WITH MUSCULAR WEAKNESS

Journal/Book: J. Neurol. Neurosurg. Psychiat. 1959 22 306. 1959;

Abstract: From the Neurological Unit the Northern General Hospital Edinburgh *Present address: The Department of Medicine Queen's College Dundee. Summary The range of slope of the curves relating integrated mean voltage to isometric tension of the upper arm muscles has been determined for a group of healthy subjects. Curves for the triceps are steeper than those obtained from the biceps. In patients with muscular weakness due to disease of the nervous system reducing the number of available motor units the slope of the voltage/tension curves lies within the normal range. In neuromuscular fatigue myopathic muscle and late cases of poliomyelitis the slope is increased indicating reduced mechanical efficiency. These results are as predicted from theoretical considerations except in poliomyelitis. It is suggested that this discrepancy is due to collateral sprouting of surviving neurones. ___MH

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