Electromyography in nutritional osteomalacic myopathy

Abstract

Electromyographic studies in 15 women with nutritional osteomalacia and proximal muscle weakness showed brief duration motor unit action potentials of normal amplitude and increased proportion of polyphasic motor unit potentials in the majority of them. By employing quantitative methods of electromyography, more positive results were obtained, thus reducing the sampling data. The histology showed non-specific muscle fibre atrophy without degenerative changes and the clinical and electromyographic examinations together showed clear evidence of a myopathy, suggesting a reversible transient block of the muscle fibres. Contrary to a recent suggestion, the nature of muscular change in osteomalacia remains the same regardless of its cause being nutritional or otherwise.