Top

European Journal of Applied Physiology

Published in:

01-07-2018 | Original Article

Reliability of tensiomyography and myotonometry in detecting mechanical and contractile characteristics of the lumbar erector spinae in healthy volunteers

Authors: Christine Lohr, Klaus-Michael Braumann, Ruediger Reer, Jan Schroeder, Tobias Schmidt

Published in: European Journal of Applied Physiology | Issue 7/2018

Abstract

Purpose

Tensiomyography™ (TMG) and MyotonPRO^® (MMT) are two non-invasive devices for monitoring muscle contractile and mechanical characteristics. This study aimed to evaluate the test–retest reliability of TMG and MMT parameters for measuring (TMG:) muscle displacement (D_m), contraction time (T_c), and velocity (V_c) and (MMT:) frequency (F), stiffness (S), and decrement (D) of the erector spinae muscles (ES) in healthy adults. A particular focus was set on the establishment of reliability measures for the previously barely evaluated secondary TMG parameter V_c.

Methods

Twenty-four subjects (13 female and 11 male, mean ± SD, 38.0 ± 12.0 years) were measured using TMG and MMT over 2 consecutive days. Absolute and relative reliability was calculated by standard error of measurement (SEM, SEM%), Minimum detectable change (MDC, MDC%), coefficient of variation (CV%) and intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC, 3.1) with a 95% confidence interval (CI).

Results

The ICCs for all variables and test–retest intervals ranged from 0.75 to 0.99 indicating a good to excellent relative reliability for both TMG and MMT, demonstrating the lowest values for TMG T_c and between-day MMT D (ICC < 0.90). Absolute reliability was suitable for all parameters (CV 2–8%) except for D_m (10–12%). V_c demonstrated to be the most reliable and repeatable TMG parameter (ICC > 0.95, CV < 8%).

Conclusion

The reliability for TMG V_c could be established successfully. Its further applicability needs to be confirmed in future studies. MMT was found to be more reliable on repeated testing than the two other TMG parameters D_m and T_c.

Agyapong-Badu S, Aird L, Baily L, Mooney K, Mullix J, Warner M, Samuel D, Stokes M (2013) Interrater reliability of muscle tone, stiffness and elasticity measurements of rectus femoris and biceps brachii in healthy young and older males measurements with MyotonPRO. Working Pap Health Sci Summer 1:1–11

Aird L, Samuel D, Stokes M (2012) Quadriceps muscle tone, elasticity and stiffness in older males: reliability and symmetry using the MyotonPRO. Arch Gerontol Geriatr 55:e31-9. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.archger.2012.03.005 CrossRefPubMed

Andonian BJ, Masi AT, Aldag JC, Barry AJ, Coates BA, Emrich K, Henderson J, Kelly J, Nair K (2015) Greater resting lumbar extensor myofascial stiffness in younger ankylosing spondylitis patients than age-comparable healthy volunteers quantified by myotonometry. Arch Phys Med Rehabil 96:2041–2047. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.apmr.2015.07.014 CrossRefPubMed

Atkinson G, Nevill AM (1998) Statistical methods for assessing measurement error (reliability) in variables relevant to sports medicine. Sport Med 26:217–238. https://doi.org/10.2165/00007256-199826040-00002 CrossRef

Baily L, Samuel D, Warner M, Stokes M (2013) Parameters representing muscle tone, elasticity and stiffness of biceps brachii in healthy older males: symmetry and within-session reliability using the MyotonPRO. J Pain Relief. https://doi.org/10.4172/jnd.1000116 CrossRef

Bizzini M, Mannion AF (2003) Reliability of a new, hand-held device for assessing skeletal muscle stiffness. Clin Biomech 18:459–461. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0268-0033(03)00042-1 CrossRef

Bonett DG (2002) Sample size requirements for estimating intraclass correlations with desired precision. Stat Med 21:1331–1335. https://doi.org/10.1002/sim.1108 CrossRefPubMed

Brandt M, Andersen LL, Samani A, Jakobsen MD, Madeleine P (2017) Inter-day reliability of surface electromyography recordings of the lumbar part of erector spinae longissimus and trapezius descendens during box lifting. BMC Musculoskelet Disord 18:519. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12891-017-1872-y CrossRefPubMedPubMedCentral

Calvo-Lobo C, Diez-Vega I, Martinez-Pascual B, Fernandez-Martinez S, La Cueva-Reguera M de, Garrosa-Martin G, Rodriguez-Sanz D (2017) Tensiomyography, sonoelastography, and mechanosensitivity differences between active, latent, and control low back myofascial trigger points: a cross-sectional study. Medicine (Baltimore) 96:e6287. https://doi.org/10.1097/MD.0000000000006287 CrossRef

Carrasco L, Sanudo B, Hoyo M de, Pradas F, Da Silva ME (2011) Effectiveness of low-frequency vibration recovery method on blood lactate removal, muscle contractile properties and on time to exhaustion during cycling at VO(2)max power output. Eur J Appl Physiol 111:2271–2279. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00421-011-1848-9 CrossRefPubMed

Carvalhais VOdC, Ocarino JdM, Araujo VL, Souza TR, Silva PLP, Fonseca ST (2013) Myofascial force transmission between the latissimus dorsi and gluteus maximus muscles: an in vivo experiment. J Biomech 46:1003–1007. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jbiomech.2012.11.044 CrossRefPubMed

Chuang LL, Lin KC, Wu CY, Chang CW, Chen HC, Yin HP, Wang L (2012a) Relative and absolute reliabilities of the myotonometric measurements of hemiparetic arms in patients with stroke. Arch Phys Med Rehabil 94:459–466. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.apmr.2012.08.212 CrossRefPubMed

Chuang LL, Wu CY, Lin KC (2012b) Reliability, validity, and responsiveness of myotonometric measurement of muscle tone, elasticity, and stiffness in patients with stroke. Arch Phys Med Rehabil 93:532–540. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.apmr.2011.09.014 CrossRefPubMed

Dahmane R, Valenčič V, Knez N, Eržen I (2001) Evaluation of the ability to make non-invasive estimation of muscle contractile properties on the basis of the muscle belly response. Med Biol Eng Comput 39:51–55. https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02345266 CrossRefPubMed

Dahmane R, Djordjevic S, Simunic B, Valencic V (2005) Spatial fiber type distribution in normal human muscle Histochemical and tensiomyographical evaluation. J Biomech 38:2451–2459. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jbiomech.2004.10.020 CrossRefPubMed

Dahmane R, Djordjevic S, Smerdu V (2006) Adaptive potential of human biceps femoris muscle demonstrated by histochemical, immunohistochemical and mechanomyographical methods. Med Biol Eng Comput 44:999–1006. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11517-006-0114-5 CrossRefPubMed

Ditroilo M, Hunter AM, Haslam S, Vito G de (2011) The effectiveness of two novel techniques in establishing the mechanical and contractile responses of biceps femoris. Physiol Meas 32:1315–1326. https://doi.org/10.1088/0967-3334/32/8/020 CrossRefPubMed

Ditroilo M, Cully L, Boreham CAG, Vito G de (2012) Assessment of musculo-articular and muscle stiffness in young and older men. Muscle Nerve 46:559–565. https://doi.org/10.1002/mus.23354 CrossRefPubMed

Ditroilo M, Smith IJ, Fairweather MM, Hunter AM (2013) Long-term stability of tensiomyography measured under different muscle conditions. J Electromyogr Kinesiol 23:558–563. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jelekin.2013.01.014 CrossRefPubMed

Freeman MD, Woodham MA, Woodham AW (2010) The role of the lumbar multifidus in chronic low back pain: a review. PM R 2:142–146. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.pmrj.2009.11.006 CrossRefPubMed

Garcia-Garcia O, Cancela-Carral JM, Martinez-Trigo R, Serrano-Gomez V (2013) Differences in the contractile properties of the knee extensor and flexor muscles in professional road cyclists during the season. J Strength Cond Res 27:2760–2767. https://doi.org/10.1519/JSC.0b013e31828155cd CrossRefPubMed

García-García O (2015) Preseason neuromuscular profile of knee extensor and flexor muscles in elite amateur road cyclist’s assessment through tensiomyography. Ann Sports Med Res 2:1024

Gasparini M, Sabovic M, Gregoric ID, Simunic B, Pisot R (2012) Increased fatigability of the gastrocnemius medialis muscle in individuals with intermittent claudication. Eur J Vasc Endovasc Surg 44:170–176. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ejvs.2012.04.024 CrossRefPubMed

Gavronski G, Veraksits A, Vasar E, Maaroos J (2007) Evaluation of viscoelastic parameters of the skeletal muscles in junior triathletes. Physiol Meas 28:625–637. https://doi.org/10.1088/0967-3334/28/6/002 CrossRefPubMed

Gervasi M, Sisti D, Amatori S, Andreazza M, Benelli P, Sestili P, Rocchi MBL, Calavalle AR (2017a) Muscular viscoelastic characteristics of athletes participating in the European Master Indoor Athletics Championship. Eur J Appl Physiol 117:1739–1746. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00421-017-3668-z CrossRefPubMed

Gervasi M, Sisti D, Benelli P, Fernández-Peña E, Calcabrini C, Rocchi MBL, Lanata L, Bagnasco M, Tonti A, Vilberto S, Sestili P (2017b) The effect of topical thiocolchicoside in preventing and reducing the increase of muscle tone, stiffness, and soreness: a real-life study on top-level road cyclists during stage competition. Medicine (Baltimore) 96:e7659. https://doi.org/10.1097/MD.0000000000007659 CrossRef

Giesbrecht RJS, Battié MC (2005) A comparison of pressure pain detection thresholds in people with chronic low back pain and volunteers without pain. Phys Ther 85:1085–1092. https://doi.org/10.1093/ptj/85.10.1085 PubMedCrossRef

Goubert D, Pauw R de, Meeus M, Willems T, Cagnie B, Schouppe S, van Oosterwijck J, Dhondt E, Danneels L (2017) Lumbar muscle structure and function in chronic versus recurrent low back pain: a cross-sectional study. Spine J 17:1285–1296. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.spinee.2017.04.025 CrossRefPubMed

Grabljevec K, Burger H, Kersevan K, Valencic V, Marincek C (2005) Strength and endurance of knee extensors in subjects after paralytic poliomyelitis. Disabil Rehabil 27:791–799. https://doi.org/10.1080/09638280400020623 CrossRefPubMed

Haley SM, Fragala-Pinkham MA (2006) Interpreting change scores of tests and measures used in physical therapy. Phys Ther 86:735–743. https://doi.org/10.1093/ptj/86.5.735 PubMedCrossRef

Hopkins WG (2000) Measures of reliability in sports medicine and science. Sport Med 30:1–15. https://doi.org/10.2165/00007256-200030010-00001 CrossRef

Hunter AM, Galloway SDR, Smith IJ, Tallent J, Ditroilo M, Fairweather MM, Howatson G (2012) Assessment of eccentric exercise-induced muscle damage of the elbow flexors by tensiomyography. J Electromyogr Kinesiol 22:334–341. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jelekin.2012.01.009 CrossRefPubMed

Kim J-J (2016) An analysis on muscle tone and stiffness during sling exercise on static prone position. J Phys Ther Sci 28:3440–3443. https://doi.org/10.1589/jpts.28.3440 CrossRefPubMedPubMedCentral

Koo TK, Li MY (2016) A guideline of selecting and reporting intraclass correlation coefficients for reliability research. J Chiropr Med 15:155–163. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jcm.2016.02.012 CrossRefPubMedPubMedCentral

Koppenhaver S, Kniss J, Lilley D, Oates M, Fernández-de-Las-Peñas C, Maher R, Croy T, Shinohara M (2018) Reliability of ultrasound shear-wave elastography in assessing low back musculature elasticity in asymptomatic individuals. J Electromyogr Kinesiol 39:49–57. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jelekin.2018.01.010 CrossRefPubMed

Krizaj D, Simunic B, Zagar T (2008) Short-term repeatability of parameters extracted from radial displacement of muscle belly. J Electromyogr Kinesiol 18:645–651. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jelekin.2007.01.008 CrossRefPubMed

Lam WK, Mok D, Chen B (2015) Reliability and asymmetry profiles of myotonometric measurements in healthy skeletal muscles. J Nov Physiother 05. https://doi.org/10.4172/2165-7025.1000245

Langevin HM, Stevens-Tuttle D, Fox JR, Badger GJ, Bouffard NA, Krag MH, Wu J, Henry SM (2009) Ultrasound evidence of altered lumbar connective tissue structure in human subjects with chronic low back pain. BMC Musculoskelet Disord 10:151. https://doi.org/10.1186/1471-2474-10-151 CrossRefPubMedPubMedCentral

Langevin HM, Fox JR, Koptiuch C, Badger GJ, Greenan-Naumann AC, Bouffard NA, Konofagou EE, Lee W-N, Triano JJ, Henry SM (2011) Reduced thoracolumbar fascia shear strain in human chronic low back pain. BMC Musculoskelet Disord 12:203. https://doi.org/10.1186/1471-2474-12-203 CrossRefPubMedPubMedCentral

Lisiński P (2000) Surface EMG in chronic low back pain. Eur Spine J 9:559–562. https://doi.org/10.1007/s005860000131 CrossRefPubMedCentral

Loturco I, Pereira LA, Kobal R, Kitamura K, Ramírez-Campillo ZV, Cal Abad CC, Nakamura FY (2016) Muscle contraction velocity: a suitable approach to analyze the functional adaptations in elite soccer players. J Sports Sci Med 15:483–491PubMedPubMedCentral

Lucas NP, Macaskill P, Irwig L, Bogduk N (2010) The development of a quality appraisal tool for studies of diagnostic reliability (QAREL). J Clin Epidemiol 63:854–861. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jclinepi.2009.10.002 CrossRefPubMed

Macgregor LJ, Ditroilo M, Smith IJ, Fairweather MM, Hunter AM (2016) Reduced radial displacement of the gastrocnemius medialis muscle after electrically elicited fatigue. J Sport Rehabil 25:241–247. https://doi.org/10.1123/jsr.2014-0325 CrossRefPubMed

Mannion AF, Dumas GA, Cooper RG, Espinosa FJ, Faris MW, Stevenson JM (1997) Muscle fibre size and type distribution in thoracic and lumbar regions of erector spinae in healthy subjects without low back pain: Normal values and sex differences. J Anat 190:505–513. https://doi.org/10.1046/j.1469-7580.1997.19040505.x CrossRefPubMedPubMedCentral

Mooney K, Warner M, Stokes M (2013) Symmetry and reliability of mechanical properties of muscles in heathy young adult males using the MyotonPRO device. Working Pap Health Sci Spring 1:1–11

Mullix J, Warner M, Stokes M (2013) Testing muscle tone and mechanical properties of rectus femoris and biceps femoris using a novel hand held MyotonPRO device: relatve ratios and reliability. Working Pap Health Sci 1:1–8

MyotonPRO (2016) MyotonPRO user manual: myoton muscle diagnostics, Talllin, Estonia

Nair K, Masi AT, Andonian BJ, Barry AJ, Coates BA, Dougherty J, Schaefer E, Henderson J, Kelly J (2016) Stiffness of resting lumbar myofascia in healthy young subjects quantified using a handheld myotonometer and concurrently with surface electromyography monitoring. J Bodyw Mov Ther 20:388–396. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jbmt.2015.12.005 CrossRefPubMed

Neamtu MC, Neamtu OM, Marin MI, Bieru DE (2016) Predection of motor disorders in multiple sclerosis using muscle change structure assessment. Rom J Morphol Embryol 57:1331–1335PubMed

Paula Simola R de, Harms N, Raeder C, Kellmann M, Meyer T, Pfeiffer M, Ferrauti A (2015) Assessment of neuromuscular function after different strength training protocols using tensiomyography. J Strength Cond Res 29:1339–1348. https://doi.org/10.1519/JSC.0000000000000768 CrossRefPubMed

Paula Simola R de, Raeder C, Wiewelhove T, Kellmann M, Meyer T, Pfeiffer M, Ferrauti A (2016a) Muscle mechanical properties of strength and endurance athletes and changes after one week of intensive training. J Electromyogr Kinesiol 30:73–80. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jelekin.2016.05.005 CrossRefPubMed

Paula Simola R de, Harms N, Raeder C, Kellmann M, Meyer T, Pfeiffer M, Ferrauti A (2016b) Tensiomyography reliability and prediction of changes in muscle force following heavy eccentric strength exercise using muscle mechanical properties. Sports Technol 8:58–66. https://doi.org/10.1080/19346182.2015.1117475 CrossRef

Peters ML, Schmidt AJM (1992) Differences in pain perception and sensory discrimination between chronic low back pain patients and healthy controls. J Psychosom Res 36:47–53. https://doi.org/10.1016/0022-3999(92)90113-G CrossRefPubMed

Pisot R, Narici MV, Simunic B, Boer M de, Seynnes O, Jurdana M, Biolo G, Mekjavic IB (2008) Whole muscle contractile parameters and thickness loss during 35-day bed rest. Eur J Appl Physiol 104:409–414. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00421-008-0698-6 CrossRefPubMed

Pruyn EC, Watsford ML, Murphy AJ (2015) Validity and reliability of three methods of stiffness assessment. J Sport Health Sci 5:476–483. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jshs.2015.12.001 CrossRef

Raabe ME, Chaudhari AMW (2018) Biomechanical consequences of running with deep core muscle weakness. J Biomech 67:98–105. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jbiomech.2017.11.037 CrossRefPubMed

Raeder C, Wiewelhove T, Simola RADP., Kellmann M, Meyer T, Pfeiffer M, Ferrauti A (2016) Assessment of fatigue and recovery in male and female athletes after 6 days of intensified strength training. J Strength Cond Res 30:3412–3427. https://doi.org/10.1519/JSC.0000000000001427 CrossRefPubMed

Ranger TA, Cicuttini FM, Jensen TS, Peiris WL, Hussain SM, Fairley J, Urquhart DM (2017) Is the size and composition of the paraspinal muscles associated with low back pain? A systematic review. Spine J. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.spinee.2017.07.002 PubMedCrossRef

Rodríguez-Matoso D, Rodríguez-Ruiz D, Sarmiento S, Vaamonde D, Silva-Grigoletto ME, García-Manso MJ (2010) Reproducibility of muscle response measurements using tensiomyography in a range of positions. Rev Andal Med Deporte 3:81–86

Rusu LD, Calina ML, Avramescu ET, Paun E, Vasilescu MM (2009) Neuromuscular investigation in diabetic polyneuropathy. Rom J Morphol Embryol 50:283–290PubMed

Rusu LD, Marin MN, Cosma GGH, Bieru Denisa E, Copilusi CP, Vasilescu MM (2016) Correlation between neuromuscular assessement and evoked potential in the prediction of the multiple sclerosisi evolution. Int J Clin Exp Med 9:17245–17257

Schiaffino S, Blaauw B, Dyar KA (2016) The functional significance of the skeletal muscle clock: lessons from Bmal1 knockout models. Skelet Muscle 6:33. https://doi.org/10.1186/s13395-016-0107-5 CrossRefPubMedPubMedCentral

Schilder A, Hoheisel U, Magerl W, Benrath J, Klein T, Treede R-D (2014) Sensory findings after stimulation of the thoracolumbar fascia with hypertonic saline suggest its contribution to low back pain. Pain 155:222–231. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.pain.2013.09.025 CrossRefPubMed

Schuenke MD, Vleeming A, van Hoof T, Willard FH (2012) A description of the lumbar interfascial triangle and its relation with the lateral raphe: anatomical constituents of load transfer through the lateral margin of the thoracolumbar fascia. J Anat 221:568–576. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1469-7580.2012.01517.x CrossRefPubMedPubMedCentral

Shrout PE, Fleiss JL (1979) Intraclass correlations: uses in assessing rater reliability. Psychol Bull 86:420–428. https://doi.org/10.1037/0033-2909.86.2.420 CrossRefPubMed

Simunic B (2012) Between-day reliability of a method for non-invasive estimation of muscle composition. J Electromyogr Kinesiol 22:527–530. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jelekin.2012.04.003 CrossRefPubMed

Simunic B, Degens H, Rittweger J, Narici M, Mekjavic IB, Pisot R (2011) Noninvasive estimation of myosin heavy chain composition in human skeletal muscle. Med Sci Sports Exerc 43:1619–1625. https://doi.org/10.1249/MSS.0b013e31821522d0 CrossRefPubMed

Tous-Fajardo J, Moras G, Rodriguez-Jimenez S, Usach R, Doutres DM, Maffiuletti NA (2010) Inter-rater reliability of muscle contractile property measurements using non-invasive tensiomyography. J Electromyogr Kinesiol 20:761–766. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jelekin.2010.02.008 CrossRefPubMed

Valenčič V, Knez N (1997) Measuring of skeletal muscles’ dynamic properties. Artif Organs 21:240–242. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1525-1594.1997.tb04658.x CrossRefPubMed

van Dieën JH, Selen LPJ, Cholewicki J (2003) Trunk muscle activation in low-back pain patients, an analysis of the literature. J Electromyogr Kinesiol 13:333–351. https://doi.org/10.1016/S1050-6411(03)00041-5 CrossRefPubMed

Viir R, Laiho K, Kramarenko J, Mikkelsson M (2006) Repeatability of trapezius muscle tone assessment by myometric method. J Mech Med Biol 06:215–228. https://doi.org/10.1142/S0219519406001856 CrossRef

Viir R, Virkus A, Laiho K, Rajaleid K, Selart A, Mikkelsson M (2007) Trapezius muscle tone and viscoelastic properties in sitting and supine positions. SJWEH Suppl 3:76–80

Wagner JM, Rhodes JA, Patten C (2008) Reproducibility and minimal detectable change of three-dimensional kinematic analysis of reaching tasks in people with hemiparesis after stroke. Phys Ther 88:652–663. https://doi.org/10.2522/ptj.20070255 CrossRefPubMed

Weir JP (2005) Quantifying test–retest reliability using the intraclass correlation coefficient and the SEM. J Strength Cond Res 19:231–240. https://doi.org/10.1519/15184.1 PubMedCrossRef

Wiewelhove T, Raeder C, Meyer T, Kellmann M, Pfeiffer M, Ferrauti A (2015) Markers for routine assessment of fatigue and recovery in male and female team sport athletes during high-intensity interval training. PLoS One 10:e0139801. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0139801 CrossRefPubMedPubMedCentral

Wiewelhove T, Raeder C, de P Simola, Alvaro R, Schneider C, Döweling A, Ferrauti A (2017) Tensiomyographic markers are not sensitive for monitoring muscle fatigue in elite youth athletes: a pilot study. Front Physiol 8:406. https://doi.org/10.3389/fphys.2017.00406 CrossRefPubMedPubMedCentral

Willard FH, Vleeming A, Schuenke MD, Danneels L, Schleip R (2012) The thoracolumbar fascia: anatomy, function and clinical considerations. J Anat 221:507–536. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1469-7580.2012.01511.x CrossRefPubMedPubMedCentral

Wilson HV, Johnson MI, Francis P (2018) Repeated stimulation, inter-stimulus interval and inter-electrode distance alters muscle contractile properties as measured by tensiomyography. PLoS One 13:e0191965. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0191965 CrossRefPubMedPubMedCentral

Zaki R, Bulgiba A, Nordin N, Azina Ismail N (2013) A systematic review of statistical methods used to test for reliability of medical instruments measuring continuous variables. Iran J Basic Med Sci 16:803–807PubMedPubMedCentral

Title: Reliability of tensiomyography and myotonometry in detecting mechanical and contractile characteristics of the lumbar erector spinae in healthy volunteers
Authors: Christine Lohr
Klaus-Michael Braumann
Ruediger Reer
Jan Schroeder
Tobias Schmidt
Publication date: 01-07-2018
Publisher: Springer Berlin Heidelberg
Published in: European Journal of Applied Physiology / Issue 7/2018
Print ISSN: 1439-6319
Electronic ISSN: 1439-6327
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00421-018-3867-2

At a glance: The STEP trials

Springer Medicine

Reliability of tensiomyography and myotonometry in detecting mechanical and contractile characteristics of the lumbar erector spinae in healthy volunteers

Abstract

Purpose

Methods

Results

Conclusion

At a glance: The STEP trials

Springer Medicine

Abstract

Purpose

Methods

Results

Conclusion

Please log in to get access to this content

Other articles of this Issue 7/2018

Model-based analysis of fatigued human knee extensors

Effects of training intensity in electromyostimulation on human skeletal muscle

Estimation of critical end-test torque using neuromuscular electrical stimulation of the quadriceps in humans

Biomechanical properties of the patellar tendon in children with heritable connective tissue disorders

The effects of different durations of static stretching within a comprehensive warm-up on voluntary and evoked contractile properties

Impact of acute dynamic exercise on radial artery low-flow mediated constriction in humans