Journal List > Korean J Sports Med > v.36(3) > 1100787

Chai, Kim, Choi, and Bae: Evaluation of Reliability of Tensiomyography Measurement

Abstract

Purpose

This study is designed to evaluate the reliability for studies of tensiomyography (TMG). TMG can evaluate muscle function noninvasively and selectively.

Methods

We measured 12 male volunteers (age, 26.5±7.6 years; height, 175.3±4.7 cm; weight, 78.8±13.3 kg) in this study and measured TMG during three occasions over 3 consecutive days. None of the participants has had any history of neuromuscular disorders or muscle diseases. Vastus lateralis, vastus medialis (VM), rectus femoris (RF) in quadriceps and biceps femoris, semitendinosus in hamstrings muscles were measured. Coefficient of variation (CV%) and intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) have been calculated about maximal displacement (Dm, mm) and contraction time (Tc, ms) which are main parameters.

Results

Most of the ICC of Dm were over 0.8 and the highest among the muscles except both VM. And, most ICC of Tc was lower than Dm except both BF (right, 18.31; left, 15.03). But, the ICC of Tc was lower than Dm except left RF (0.890) and VM (0.859).

Conclusion

This study has shown that the Dm is high levels of the ICC and CV(%) in thigh muscle except VM. In the future, we plan to establish the method of measurement more clearly for reducing the errors of measurements. The technique of correct palpation of measurable muscles using TMG devices is also necessary.

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Fig. 1.
Composition of tensiomyography (TMG).
kjsm-36-143f1.tif
Fig. 2.
Tensiomyography parameters. Tc: contraction time, Tr: relaxation time, Ts: sustain time, Td: delay time, Dm: maximal displacement.
kjsm-36-143f2.tif
Fig. 3.
Tensiomyography measurements in (A) quadriceps and (B) hamstring muscles.
kjsm-36-143f3.tif
Table 1.
Physical characteristics (n=12)
Sex Age (yr) Height (cm) Weight (kg)
Male 26.5±7.6 175.3±4.7 78.8±13.3

Values are presented as mean±standard deviation.

Table 2.
Maximal displacement (mm)
Side Muscle 1st 2nd 3rd Mean±SD CV(%) ICC (95% CI)
Left Hamstrings BF 6.86±2.66 7.24±2.88 7.09±2.35 7.06±2.57 14.28 0.832 (0.625–0.943)
ST 8.66±2.18 8.38±2.33 8.54±2.36 8.53±2.23 9.68 0.853 (0.665–0.951)
Quadriceps RF 6.58±2.83 6.65±2.95 6.28±3.01 6.50±2.85 14.57 0.897 (0.754–0.966)
VL 5.99±2.18 5.89±2.93 6.14±2.38 6.00±2.45 9.47 0.922 (0.809–0.975)
VM 7.93±1.50 8.21±1.66 7.95±1.77 8.03±1.61 8.3 0.702 (0.405–0.892)
Right Hamstrings BF 6.77±3.16 6.56±3.13 6.29±3.12 6.54±3.06 13.93 0.911 (0.785–0.971)
ST 7.72±2.23 8.14±2.49 7.60±2.69 7.82±2.42 10.99 0.839 (0.638–0.946)
Quadriceps RF 7.28±2.30 7.14±2.32 6.48±2.47 6.97±2.32 13.72 0.816 (0.595–0.937)
VL 5.87±1.56 5.98±1.83 5.67±2.04 5.84±1.77 9.93 0.856 (0.670–0.952)
VM 7.50±1.53 7.35±1.57 7.14±1.70 7.33±1.56 8.69 0.776 (0.523–0.922)

Values are presented as mean±standard deviation (SD).

CV: coefficient of variation, ICC: intraclass correlation coefficient, CI: confidence interval, BF: biceps femoris, ST: semitendinosus, RF: rectus femoris, VL: vastus lateralis, VM: vastus medialis.

Table 3.
Contraction time (ms)
Side Muscle 1st 2nd 3rd Mean±SD CV(%) ICC (95% CI)
Left Hamstrings BF 39.23±14.63 44.96±19.66 40.47±14.07 41.56±16.04 18.31 0.559 (0.214–0.827)
ST 46.49±9.21 44.45±9.29 43.77±11.08 44.91±9.68 10.09 0.682 (0.376–0.883)
Quadriceps RF 28.44±7.06 29.01±6.10 29.00±6.89 28.82±6.51 6.62 0.890 (0.741–0.964)
VL 23.20±2.87 25.01±6.74 24.57±2.60 24.26±4.43 8.53 0.537 (0.187–0.816)
VM 23.43±2.98 23.60±295 23.71±3.16 23.58±2.95 4.2 0.859 (0.678–0.953)
Right Hamstrings BF 37.24±10.50 35.42±9.77 36.95±17.75 36.54±12.82 15.03 0.533 (0.183–0.814)
ST 45.99±6.54 49.93±7.84 43.38±10.63 46.43±8.70 11.65 0.413 (0.055–0.749)
Quadriceps RF 27.78±5.15 27.54±6.21 25.36±4.72 26.89±5.35 8.48 0.783 (0.537–0.926)
VL 26.12±5.58 26.89±7.38 25.96±35.40 26.32±6.01 8.84 0.753 (0.485–0.913)
VM 23.79±2.11 23.74±2.09 24.12±2.62 23.88±2.23 4.44 0.698 (0.400–0.890)

Values are presented as mean±standard deviation (SD).

CV: coefficient of variation, ICC: intraclass correlation coefficient, CI: confidence interval, BF: biceps femoris, ST: semitendinosus, RF: rectus femoris, VL: vastus lateralis, VM: vastus medialis.

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