Reduction in the motor unit number estimate (MUNE) after cerebral infarction

Motor unit number estimation and quantitative needle electromyography in stroke patients

“…MUNE values on the non-paretic side were well within the range of measurements reported in the literature for healthy controls. Depending on the method employed, the subjects' age and the examined muscle (in the hypothenar eminence surface recordings obtained from more than one muscle), MUNE value for intrinsic hand muscles varies from approximately 100 to 400 (McComas, 1998;Santo Neto et al, 1998;Albrecht and Kuntzer, 2004;Arasaki et al, 2006;Yerdelen et al, 2006;van Dijk et al, 2008). MUNE on the affected side was significantly lower as compared to the other side, a finding consistent with previous reports on stroke patients (Hara et al, 2000;Arasaki et al, 2006;Choi et al, 2007).…”

“…From distant to recent past various neurophysiological approaches have been used to investigate the functional state of lower motor neurons and their motor units in patients with hemiparesis or hemiplegia due to stroke, which is a suitable model to study the effect of upper motor neuron damage upon locomotion (Johnson et al, 1975;Chang, 1998;Lukacs, 2005;Arasaki et al, 2006). Mc Comas et al (1971) reported 50% decrease of the functioning motor units on the hemiplegic side of stroke patients.…”

Prevalence and Clinical Correlates of Sarcopenia, Identified According to the EWGSOP Definition and Diagnostic Algorithm, in Hospitalized Older People: The GLISTEN Study

“…Only a few studies formally investigated this association, with conflicting results: some studies reported a significant association only in men (30), while others failed to show any significant association (31). Within four hours after cerebral damage, the number of motor fibers in the muscles of the paretic limb decreases (32). Loss of muscle innervation leads to muscular weakness, inactivity, and immobilization, ultimately resulting in muscle atrophy.…”

Stroke-Related Sarcopenia: Specific Characteristics

“…As early as 4 hours after the event, a decrease of motor unit numbers in the musculature of the affected limb can be observed. 16 The reduction of motor units persists further in the chronic phase after stroke. Thus, a recent study investigating spectral analysis of surface electromyogram signals in hemiparetic patients with chronic stroke showed different distribution of the electromyogram power spectrum between paretic and nonparetic muscles.…”