This subproject is one of many research subprojects utilizing the resources provided by a Center grant funded by NIH/NCRR. The subproject and investigator (PI) may have received primary funding from another NIH source, and thus could be represented in other CRISP entries. The institution listed is for the Center, which is not necessarily the institution for the investigator. In order to further develop and refine the technique of EIM, normal patterns of EIM behavior in adult males and females of varying age will be better established. Potential variations of EIM will be explored, including the linear EIM, dynamic-EIM, and rotational-EIM. In normal subjects, only limited ancillary testing will be performed, but most will have standard electromyographies studies and motor strength testing to confirm that all muscles studied with EIM are normal. Patterns and developing correlations will be evaluated between EIM parameters and age, as well as making further refinements to the technique. The second two parts of the study will consist of evaluating patients with a variety of illnesses that induce weakness, both neuromuscular and non-neuromuscular (e.g. central nervous system disturbances and disuse atrophy secondary to prolonged bed rest or casting related to fracture). An EIM will be performed on the subjects to both determine whether certain patterns correlates with specific diagnoses. Subjects will be followed over time to determine how EIM parameters change in patients undergoing treatment and those for whom no therapy is currently available. Patients recovering from prolonged bed rest or casting will also be followed to determine the EIM parameters with recovery of weakness secondary to disuse. In order to correlate EIM parameters with a patient's course, ancillary studies will also be performed, including needle myography and nerve conduction studies, manual muscle strength testing, and quantitative muscle strength testing.
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