Electromyographic studies in healthy individuals and patients with upper motor neuron lesions

ABSTRACT

Electromyographic studies were conducted on the tibialis anterior muscles along with serum creatinine phosphokinase levels in the clinically normal individuals and the patients with upper motor neuron lesions. Motor unit potential's duration, amplitude, percentage of polyphasic potentials and incidence of spontaneous activity were recorded. The data obtained showed that percentage of polyphasic potentials and incidence of spontaneous activity were recorded. The data obtained showed that percentage of polyphasic potentials and incidence of spontaneous activity were much higher in the diseased than in the normal group and the difference was statistically highly significant [p<0.001]. However, the motor unit potential's duration and amplitude were not significantly different [p>0.05] from the control. It is conceivable, therefore, that increased polyphasic potentials and spontaneous electrical activity are two important associated electromyographic findings in upper motor neuron lesions