Electromyographic study of the fibre density in the M. tibialis anterior in young patients complaining of low back pain
Vermeersch, L.; Vermeersch, D.; de Meirsman, J.; Rosselle, N.
Electromyography and Clinical Neurophysiology 23(6): 559-565
1983
ISSN/ISBN: 0301-150X PMID: 6227472 Document Number: 198332
Fiber density studies of several different muscles in healthy persons were done by Stalberg and Trontelj. The main value of the fiber density increases in the age group > 60. Since fiber density can be considered a measure of the relation between the total number of muscle fibers and the total number of motor units, increase in fiber density over the age of 60 is a result of the physiological loss of motor neurons due to aging. After denervation of a motor unit, the surrounding nerve fibers will reinnervate the muscle fibers which became isolated, (if the process of reinnervation is at least partially successful), the total number of motor units will decrease while the total number of muscle fibers will remain the same. An increase in fiber density will result. Since nerve root compression can produce a loss of nerve fibers, an increase in fiber density can be assumed. A group of patients complaining of low back pain with chronic sciatica was examined. EMG detection was performed in the anterior tibial muscle because it is innervated through nerve roots which are frequently involved in nerve root compression syndromes, and also because of its easy accessability.