The effectiveness of two novel techniques in establishing the mechanical and contractile responses of biceps femoris

Author(s)
Ditroilo, Massimiliano
Hunter, Angus M
Haslam, Samuel
de Vito, Giuseppe
Publication Date
2011
Abstract
Portable tensiomyography (TMG) and myotonometry (MMT) devices have been developed to measure mechanical and contractile properties of skeletal muscle. The aim of this study was to explore the sensitivity of the aforementioned techniques in detecting a change in passive mechanical properties of the biceps femoris (BF) muscle as a result of change in knee joint angle (i.e. muscle length). BF responses were assessed in 16 young participants (23.4 ± 4.9 years), at three knee joint angles (0°, 45° and 90°), for maximal isometric torque (MIT) along with myo-electrical activity. Contractile and mechanical properties were measured in a relaxed state. Inter-day reliability of the TMG and MMT was also assessed. MIT changed significantly (p < 0.01) across the three angles, so did stiffness and other parameters measured with MMT (p < 0.01). Conversely, TMG could detect changes only at two knee angles (0° and 45°, p < 0.01), when there is enough tension in the muscle. Reliability was overall insufficient for TMG whilst absolute reliability was excellent (coefficient of variation < 5%) for MMT. The ability of MMT more than TMG to detect an inherent change in stiffness can be conceivably exploited in a number of clinical/therapeutic applications that have to do with unnatural changes in passive muscle stiffness.
Citation
Physiological Measurement, 32(8), p. 1315-1326
ISSN
1361-6579
0967-3334
Link
Publisher
Institute of Physics Publishing Ltd
Title
The effectiveness of two novel techniques in establishing the mechanical and contractile responses of biceps femoris
Type of document
Journal Article
Entity Type
Publication

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