Reliability of Myotonometry in the Assessment of Mechanical Properties of Thenar Muscles

Reliability of Myotonometry in the Assessment of Mechanical Properties of Thenar Muscles: Relationship With Handgrip Strength, Reaction Time and Left/Right Discrimination

This study aims: (i) to determine the intra- and inter-observer reliability of myotonometry in assessing the mechanical properties of the thenar muscles [abductor pollicis brevis (APB) and flexor pollicis brevis (FPB)] in healthy subjects; (ii) to investigate the relationship between reaction time, left/right discrimination, grip strength and these mechanical properties.

Study Overview

• Status: Not yet recruiting
• Conditions: Muscular Tone

Detailed Description

Investigating the mechanical properties of hand muscles using simple applicable methods such as myotonometry can help to evaluate the effectiveness of programs used in hand rehabilitation, optimize the skills of performance-oriented individuals such as athletes and musicians, and create individualized treatment and training programs. In musculoskeletal-related pathologies such as carpal tunnel syndrome, studying the mechanical properties of the thenar muscles may be important to better understand hand grip strength, hand function and mobility. However, the use of myotonometer in the evaluation of the mechanical properties of the thenar muscles requires a reliability study. Accordingly, the aims of our study are: (i) to determine the intra- and inter-observer reliability of myotonometry in assessing the mechanical properties of the thenar muscles [abductor pollicis brevis (APB) and flexor pollicis brevis (FPB)] in healthy subjects; (ii) to investigate the relationship between reaction time, left/right discrimination, grip strength and these mechanical properties.

• Study Type: Observational
• Enrollment (Estimated): 40

Contacts and Locations

• Study Contact: Name: Tülay Çevik Saldıran, PhD; Phone Number: +90 (434) 222 83 03; Email: tcsaldiran@beu.edu.tr

Study Locations

• Turkey
  • Bitlis, Turkey, 13000
    • Bitlis Eren University

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: Adult
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: Yes

• Sampling Method: Non-Probability Sample

Study Population

Healthy adults between 18-35 years old

Description

Inclusion criteria:

• being between 18 and 35 years of age
• having normal upper extremity function
• having a Montreal Cognitive Assessment Test (MoCA) score > 26 points

Exclusion criteria:

• any neuromuscular or musculoskeletal disease
• history of upper limb injury
• upper limb surgery within the last 6 months
• body mass index (BMI) > 30 kg/m2.

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Muscle tone (Hz)	The muscle tone which is a biomechanical property of the forearm muscles will be evaluated with a portable hand-held myotonometer. This myotonometer (MyotonPRO - Tallinn, Estonia) is non-invasive and provides a quantitative assessment of a muscle's biomechanical properties. The MyotonPRO applies a short-intensity mechanical impulse on the skin overlying the muscle or facia. The tissue's response then generates a signal that is recorded, and an internal software program produces an acceleration graph. To determine the feasibility of the MyotonPRO for assessing the muscle tone of forearm muscles measurements will be performed and recorded.	Day 1
Stiffness (N/m)	The stiffness which is a biomechanical property of the forearm muscles will be evaluated with a portable hand-held myotonometer. This myotonometer (MyotonPRO - Tallinn, Estonia) is non-invasive and provides a quantitative assessment of a muscle's biomechanical properties. The MyotonPRO applies a short-intensity mechanical impulse on the skin overlying the muscle or facia. The tissue's response then generates a signal that is recorded, and an internal software program produces an acceleration graph. To determine the feasibility of the MyotonPRO for assessing the stiffness of forearm muscles measurements will be performed and recorded.	Day 1
Elasticity (Logarithmic decrement)	The elasticity which is a viscoelastic property of the forearm muscles will be evaluated with a portable hand-held myotonometer. This myotonometer (MyotonPRO - Tallinn, Estonia) is non-invasive and provides a quantitative assessment of a muscle's viscoelastic properties. The MyotonPRO applies a short-intensity mechanical impulse on the skin overlying the muscle or facia. The tissue's response then generates a signal that is recorded, and an internal software program produces an acceleration graph. To determine the feasibility of the MyotonPRO for assessing the stiffness of forearm muscles measurements will be performed and recorded.	Day 1

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Grip and pinch strength	Hand grip strength will be measured using a hydraulic hand dynamometer (Baseline). Pinch grip strength will be assessed using a hydraulic pinchmeter (Baseline). Standard procedures recommended by ASHT will be followed. Hand grip strength and pinch strength tests will be assessed with the elbow flexed 90 degrees as recommended by the American Society of Hand Therapists (ASHT).	Day 1
Reaction time	BlazePod, a new technology for measuring individual reaction time (ms), will be used in the study. Participants will be asked to sit in a height-adjustable chair and position their dominant hand on the assessment table in as comfortable a position as possible. Once the participant's dominant hand is placed on the table, each pod will be placed 25 cm from the center of the hand to form a square pattern. Before starting the test, the participants will perform two practice trials in the same test setup as the real test in order to adapt to the test. Prior to the test, the mobile app will give the participant a three-second audible countdown warning and a start command. Participants will be instructed to touch the pods with the hand being tested to turn off the lights as quickly as possible and to maintain this throughout the test.	Day 1
Left/Right Judgment Task	The Left/Right Discrimination Ability (LRJT) Task test will be performed using the Recognize® tablet application (RecogniseTM application, NOI, Neuro-orthopedic Institute). The Recognize hand assessment kit tablet version iPad (9.7 inch, iPad, Apple Computers) will be downloaded and used.	Day 1

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: Ilke KARA

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start (Estimated): September 1, 2023
• Primary Completion (Estimated): September 1, 2024
• Study Completion (Estimated): November 1, 2024

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: July 24, 2023
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: August 21, 2023
• First Posted (Actual): August 22, 2023

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Actual): August 22, 2023
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: August 21, 2023
• Last Verified: August 1, 2023

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Keywords: elasticity; hardness
• Other Study ID Numbers: BEU-KTS-02

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

• Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?: NO

Drug and device information, study documents

• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product: No
• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product: No