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

Reliability and Sex-Based Variations in Myotonometer Assessment of Thenar Muscle Properties: Implications for Grip Strength

This study aimed to (i) assess the reliability of myotonometer measurements in determining the mechanical properties of thenar muscle in healthy individuals and explore gender-based variations in these properties; (ii) examine the relationship between pinch grip strength and these mechanical properties.

Study Overview

• Status: Completed
• Conditions: Muscular Tone

Detailed Description

Investigating the mechanical properties of hand muscles using simple applicable methods such as myotonometer 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: to (i) assess the reliability of myotonometer measurements in determining the mechanical properties of thenar muscle in healthy individuals and explore gender-based variations in these properties; (ii) examine the relationship between pinch grip strength and these mechanical properties.

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

Contacts and Locations

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.	30 Minutes
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.	30 Minutes
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.	30 Minutes

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Pinch strength	Pinch grip strength will be assessed using a hydraulic pinchmeter (Baseline). Standard procedures recommended by American Society of Hand Therapists (ASHT) will be followed.	30 Minutes

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: Ilke KARA

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start (Actual): September 1, 2023
• Primary Completion (Actual): April 1, 2024
• Study Completion (Actual): May 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): May 3, 2024
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: May 2, 2024
• Last Verified: May 1, 2024

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Keywords: rehabilitation; biomechanics; assessment; skeletal muscle
• 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