The Reliability of Myotonometer in Evaluating the Muscle Tone and Biomechanical Properties of the Forearm Muscles

Study Overview
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Brief Summary
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The primary aim of this study was to evaluate the intra-rater and inter-rater reliability of MyotonPRO in measuring muscle tone and mechanical properties of the wrist extensor and flexor muscles in healthy young adults. The secondary aim is to examine whether grip strength has any effect on muscle tone and biomechanical properties.

Official Title
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The Reliability of Myotonometer in Evaluating the Muscle Tone and Biomechanical Properties of the Forearm Muscles: Investigation of the Effect of Grip Strength on Mechanical Features

Conditions
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Muscular Tone, Viscoelasticity

Participation Criteria
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Eligibility Criteria
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Inclusion Criteria: Age≥18 years Body mass index < 30 kg/meter square Having no upper extremity injuries Willing and able to provide the written informed consent for the study Exclusion Criteria: Use of medication that will affect muscle tone History of lateral or medial epicondylitis, trauma (elbow, hand or wrist), cervical radiculopathy, peripheral neuropathy or nerve injury (axillary, median, ulnar, radial, musculocutaneous), systemical diseases, muscle disorders (e.g. genetic diseases, neuromuscular disorders)

Ages Eligible for Study
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Minimum Age: 18 Years
Maximum Age: 35 Years

Sexes Eligible for Study
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All

Accepts Healthy Volunteers
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Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Study Plan
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How is the study designed?
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What is the study measuring?
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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 Strength | Handgrip strength will be measured with the JAMAR Hydraulic Hand Dynamometer. Participants will be asked to sit down with knees and hip flexed to 90⁰, forearm in a neutral position, wrist in 0-30⁰ extension, and 0-5⁰ ulnar deviation while on a chair with backrest. During the measurement, the examiner will instruct them to squeeze the handles of the dynamometer as strongly as possible and then let them loose completely, with a loud motivating command. This will be repeated 3 times with 1-minute rest breaks and the average value will be calculated. During the measurements, the Jamar dynamometer will be grasped from the lower and upper parts by the examiner. | Day 1 | 

 Terms related to the study
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Keywords Provided by Centre Hospitalier Valida
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elasticity, hardness, forearm muscles