Atlas of the muscle motor points for the lower limb: implications for ...

2470 Eur J Appl Physiol (2011) 111:2461–2471
positioned over the main motor point in case of monopolar
stimulation.
However, it is not possible to infer from the present data
if these electrode configurations or the above-mentioned
multichannel stimulation can improve the effectiveness of
the electrical stimulation procedures. Further studies
comparing the electromechanical responses obtained by
different stimulation sites and modalities are required to
resolve elements of confusion and controversy and improve
standardization of electrical stimulation procedures.
In conclusion, this study demonstrates that muscle motor
points can be easily and quickly localized in the lower limb
through visual inspection and manual palpation of the
muscle during electrical stimulation and that an interindividual
variability in the motor point position exists and
may limit the usefulness of the anatomic motor point
charts, especially for posterior thigh and leg muscles.
Acknowledgments Musculoskeletal Images are from the University
of Washington ‘‘Musculoskeletal Atlas: A Musculoskeletal Atlas of
the Human Body’’ by Carol Teitz, M.D. and Dan Graney, Ph.D.
Copyright 2003–2004 University of Washington. All rights reserved
including all photographs and images. No re-use, re-distribution or
commercial use without prior written permission of the authors and
the University of Washington. The authors are grateful to Prof.
R. Merletti (LISiN, Politecnico di Torino, Italy) for his careful review
of the final version of the manuscript and to Dr. D. Antista (School of
Motor Sciences, Turin, Italy) for his valuable assistance in subject
recruitment and evaluation. This study was supported by Regional
Health Administration Project ‘‘Ricerca Sanitaria Finalizzata 2009’’
and by bank foundations ‘‘Compagnia di San Paolo’’ (Project
‘‘Neuromuscular Investigation and Conditioning in Endocrine
Myopathy’’), ‘‘Fondazione Cariplo’’ (Project ‘‘Steroid myopathy:
Molecular, Histopathological, and Electrophysiological Characterization’’)
and ‘‘Fondazione Cassa di Risparmio di Saluzzo’’.
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