Motor unit number index (MUNIX). IEEE Trans Biomed Eng 2004 Dec;51(12):2209-11
Date
12/21/2004Pubmed ID
15605872DOI
10.1109/TBME.2004.834281Scopus ID
2-s2.0-9644257165 (requires institutional sign-in at Scopus site) 156 CitationsAbstract
The surface-recorded compound muscle action potential (CMAP) and electromyographic (EMG) interference pattern is used to compute the motor unit number index (MUNIX). The MUNIX demonstrated all known changes in the number of motor units in normal subjects, and in patients with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). In normal subjects MUNIX decreased slightly with age and showed excellent reproducibility. In many ALS patients MUNIX was reduced even when the CMAP was normal. Lower MUNIX values were seen in weaker muscles. This is a noninvasive method that requires minimal electrical stimulation. It is performed in less than 5 min. This makes it suitable for serial EMG investigations.
Author List
Nandedkar SD, Nandedkar DS, Barkhaus PE, Stalberg EVAuthor
Paul E. Barkhaus MD Professor in the Neurology department at Medical College of WisconsinMESH terms used to index this publication - Major topics in bold
Action PotentialsAdult
Aged
Algorithms
Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis
Diagnosis, Computer-Assisted
Electromyography
Humans
Middle Aged
Motor Neurons
Muscle Fibers, Skeletal
Muscle, Skeletal