Motor Unit Number Index (MUNIX): a novel neurophysiological marker for neuromuscular disorders; test-retest reliability in healthy volunteers

Abstract

Objective: To investigate the intra-rater and inter-rater test-retest reliability of the Motor Unit Number Index (MUNIX) in healthy subjects in a multicentre setting.

Methods: Six study centres applied the MUNIX technique in 66 healthy subjects. Five to six muscles (biceps brachii, BB; abductor digiti minimi, ADM; abductor pollicis brevis, APB; tibialis anterior, TA; extensor digitorum brevis, EDB and abductor hallucis, AH) were measured in each volunteer four times by two independent examiners.

Results: The method was easy to perform and well tolerated. The intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) varied between centres and muscles. Intra-rater reliability was greatest for the AH (ICC 0.83) and EDB (ICC 0.81). Inter-rater reliability was greatest for the AH (ICC 0.69) and ADM muscles (ICC 0.69). The most critical muscle was the APB muscle (ICC 0.52, total variability). This was mostly due to variability in the compound muscle action potential (CMAP) measurements. MUNIX values of the APB, ADM and TA fell into the same range as in other motor unit number estimation (MUNE) studies.

Conclusion: MUNIX measurements in multiple muscles show good inter- and intra-rater reliability in healthy subjects. CMAP amplitude must be controlled to optimize reliability.

Significance: Results suggest that MUNIX could serve as a reliable marker for motor neuron loss in diseases like amyotrophic lateral sclerosis.