Automatic analysis of the electromyogram in healthy subjects of different ages

The technique of automatic analysis of the electromyogram is reviewed in detail. Observations on new series of healthy subjects which may serve as a control series for comparisons with subjects with neuromuscular disease are reported. The advantages to clinical practice of using fixed standard loads for the examination are stressed. Increase in the mean amplitude of the interference pattern wasfound with increasing age in biceps brachii and tibialis anterior (but not in vastus medialis). There was no corresponding increase in mean turns count. It is suggested that this change is due to increasing mild chronic partial denervation in these 2 muscles with advancing age.