Abstract

A new electromyographic technique for the study of the motor unit is described. A modified single fibre EMG electrode is used. The electrical activity obtained by the electrode shaft during voluntary muscle contraction is averaged after triggering from a single muscle fibre action potential and the contribution from one motor unit is thus extracted. This "Macro EMG" signal gives information about the whole motor unit in contrast to the regional or focal electrical activity measured by conventional or single fibre EMG recordings, respectively.