Search research articles

ABOUT JoVE

Overview Leadership Blog JoVE Help Center

AUTHORS

Publishing Process Editorial Board Scope & Policies Peer Review FAQ Submit

LIBRARIANS

Testimonials Subscriptions Access Resources Library Advisory Board FAQ

RESEARCH

JoVE Journal Methods Collections JoVE Encyclopedia of Experiments Archive

EDUCATION

JoVE Core JoVE Business JoVE Science Education JoVE Lab Manual Faculty Resource Center Faculty Site

Terms & Conditions of Use

Search research articles

Related Experiment Videos

Transient decrease in number of motor units after immobilisation in man

A Fuglsang-Frederiksen, U Scheel

Journal of Neurology, Neurosurgery, and Psychiatry

|October 1, 1978

Summary

This summary is machine-generated.

Related Concept Videos

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by

Same author

Electrodiagnostic criteria for neuromuscular transmission disorders suggested by a European consensus group.

Clinical neurophysiology practice·2025

Same author

Estimating motor unit numbers from a CMAP scan: Repeatability study on three muscles at 15 centres.

Clinical neurophysiology : official journal of the International Federation of Clinical Neurophysiology·2023

Same author

Muscle velocity recovery cycles in myopathy.

Clinical neurophysiology : official journal of the International Federation of Clinical Neurophysiology·2023

Same author

Detecting peripheral motor nervous system involvement in chronic spinal cord injury using two novel methods: MScanFit MUNE and muscle velocity recovery cycles.

Clinical neurophysiology : official journal of the International Federation of Clinical Neurophysiology·2020

Same author

Evidence-based recommendations for examination and diagnostic strategies of polyneuropathy electrodiagnosis.

Clinical neurophysiology practice·2019

Same author

Muscle velocity recovery cycles in neurogenic muscles.

Clinical neurophysiology : official journal of the International Federation of Clinical Neurophysiology·2019

Electrical activity in disused quadriceps muscles showed fewer motor units after cast removal. This transient reduction in needle-recorded electromyography (EMG) indicates the motor system

Area of Science:

Neuromuscular physiology
Muscle plasticity

Background:

Immobilization following injury or surgery can lead to muscle disuse.
Disuse can alter muscle function and electrical activity.

Purpose of the Study:

To investigate changes in quadriceps muscle electrical activity after immobilization.
To assess the recovery of muscle electrical activity post-immobilization.

Main Methods:

Needle-recorded electromyography (EMG) was used to analyze electrical activity in the quadriceps.
Measurements were taken after long leg cast removal and during recovery.
EMG parameters like number of turns and mean amplitude were assessed at varying force levels.

Main Results:

A reduction in motor units and decreased EMG turns/amplitude were observed in the disused quadriceps.

Related Experiment Videos

Electrical activity normalized within eight days as muscle force partially recovered.

No significant difference in EMG activity was found at a constant 5 kg force output.

Conclusions:

Transient decreases in EMG parameters indicate motor unit loss and muscle plasticity after disuse.
The motor system demonstrates adaptability in response to immobilization and subsequent recovery.
EMG analysis provides insights into the functional changes of muscles during recovery from disuse.