Interference pattern ; Normal cloud ; Quantitative EMG
Abstract
Objective: The aim of this study was to establish the turns-amplitude, activity-envelope amplitude and
activity-number of small segments (NSS) clouds of normal adolescent with using quantitative interference
pattern analysis.
Method: Healthy adolescents whose ages were from 15 to 19 years old participated in this study. Using
quantitative EMG of the biceps brachii, and tibialis anterior muscle, the interference patterns were analyzed.
The interference patterns were measured at three to five different force levels, ranging from minimum
to maximum, and recorded at least 20 epochs at each muscle.
Results: The turns-amplitude, activity-envelope amplitude and activity-NSS of the biceps brachii, and
tibialis anterior muscles were obtained in males and females. On the basis of the linear regression equation
of log of each variables, the±2 standard deviations were set to a normal range. These range were
drawn on the original plot with linear scale and normal range was obtained by setting upper limits on each
variables. The establishment of normal clouds of gender related turns-amplitude, activity-envelope amplitude
and activity-NSS were obtained.
Conclusion: By using normal cloud patterns of turns-amplitude, activity-envelope amplitude and activity-
NSS, automatic interference pattern analysis may contribute to diagnose neuromuscular disease in adolescent
patients.