• Journal of the Korea Academia-Industrial cooperation Society
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• v.13 no.3
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• pp.1129-1137
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• 2012

The aim of this study was to find useful parameters of the between myotonometer and surface electromyography(sEMG) on the medialis gastrocnemius of stroke patients and investigate between these parameters and modified Ashworth scale(MAS) relationship. 5 years clinical experience physical therapist using the Modified Ashworth Scale(MAS) was selected 15 patients with ankle spasticity and divided randomly MAS2, MAS3, MAS4 groups. Myotonometer and sEMG was measured during relaxed and maximum voluntary contractions of the gastrocnemius muscle. The results of this study, the higher MAS score was the lowered the relaxation and contraction state tissue compliance and muscle activity and in the correlation analysis the higher MAS score during voluntary contraction in the cylinder receiving low-intensity correlation could see that increased than relaxation. Therefore, the myotonometer is a useful clinical and research tool with spasticity muscle and can provide objective quantitative data about the efficacy of physical therapy interventions.

• Physical Therapy Korea
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• v.14 no.2
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• pp.29-36
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• 2007

Muscle tone (stiffness/hardness) or muscle compliance changes during muscle contraction. The purposes of this study were to assess the intrarater and interrater reliabilities of the Myotonometer$^{(R)}$, electronic device that quantifies muscle tone. Two raters used the Myotonometer to assess the right bicep brachia and quadriceps muscles of 30 voluntary persons without any orthopedic or neurological problems (age range, 18~21 yrs). Muscles were measured in a relaxed state and during brief sustained voluntary maximal isometric contraction. Intrarater correlation coefficients were calculated for each muscle and for each condition (relaxed and contracted). Intrarater reliabilities (intraclass correlation coefficients, ICCs) ranged from .778 to .954, relaxed, biceps brachia), .926 to .963 (contracted, biceps brachia), .935 to .990 (relaxed, quadriceps) and .679 to .952(contracted, quadriceps). Interrater reliabilities ranged from .652 to .790 (relaxed, biceps brachii), .813 to .907 (contracted, biceps brachii), .831 to .950 (relaxed, quadriceps) and .849 to .937 (contracted, quadriceps). Myotonometer measurements had high to very high intrarater and interrater reliability for measurements of the biceps brachia and quadriceps muscles.

• Journal of Biomedical Engineering Research
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• v.33 no.3
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• pp.128-134
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• 2012

Currently, high-intensity laser therapy (HILT) is increasingly used in various muscle disorders like muscle tension. Our proposed study includes the development of the real-time monitoring system using a myotonometer for HILT. The developed system consists of a piezoelectric sensor and laser distance sensor for muscle stiffness monitoring during the treatments. The results demonstrated that the level of muscle tension was rapidly decreased after 3 minutes of the high-intensity laser treatment when compared to the control group. The combined HILT and realtime muscle tension monitoring system may help to evaluate the therapeutic procedure and efficient treatments for various muscle pains.

• Journal of The Korean Society of Integrative Medicine
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• v.9 no.1
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• pp.193-202
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• 2021

Purpose : The purpose of this study is to examine inter-and intra-rater reliabilities of myotonometric measurements of tone, elasticity and stiffness for the erector spinae muscles of the young and the elderly populations. Methods : A total of 102 (69 young adults from K university and 33 older adults from the D community center in Daejeon) were enrolled in this study. The two different raters measured each side of the erector spinae muscles at prone position. After each rater performed first measurement for a subject, 30 minutes of rest was given. The same rater then repeated the second myometric measurement on the subject. The collected data on the tone, elasticity, and stiffness of the erector spinae were analyzed using intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) to determine inter- and intra- rater reliabilities. Results : The inter-and intra-rater reliabilities of the myotonometric measurement of the erector spinae for the total subjects were excellent (ICC > 0.9, p < 0.001). Within each of the elderly group and the young group, inter- and intra-rater reliabilities were also excellent (ICC > 0.8~0.9 / p < 0.001, ICC > 0.75~0.9 / p < 0.001, each). Conclusion : The measurement of muscle tone, elasticity, and stiffness for the erector spinae muscles using the myotonometer had excellent reliability. It was confirmed that a highly reliable myometric measurement on the erector spinae can be obtained regardless of whether it is from young or elderly people. This suggests that the myotonometer can be a useful tool to measure muscular properties of the erector spinae of the young and old as an evaluative instrument.

• Journal of the Korea Academia-Industrial cooperation Society
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• v.13 no.12
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• pp.5867-5874
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• 2012

The aim of this study was to find on muscle architectural and tissue compliance of biceps brachii in stroke patient based on elbow joint angle. The subjects of this study were twelve hemiplegic adults after stroke with passive range of motion in the elbow from $10^{\circ}$ to $90^{\circ}$ and Modified Ashworth Scale score 1 to 3 were recruited. Ultrasonography and Myotonometer was used to measure biceps brachii muscle pennation angle, fascicle length, and tissue compliance at the rest condition and pennation angle, fascicle length, and tissue compliance of the biceps brachii muscle were measured in the affected and unaffected sides of people after stroke at 9 different elbow angles ranging from $10^{\circ}$ to $90^{\circ}$ at the rest condition. The results of this study, comparisons found that the pennation angles of the affected biceps brachii muscle were significantly larger(p<.05) than the unaffected muscle in the most extended positions($<40^{\circ}$), whereas the affected fascicle lengths were significantly shorter(p<.05) than the unaffected muscle in most flexed positions($>20^{\circ}$), and the affected tissue compliance were significantly lower(p<.05) than the unaffected muscle in most extended positions($<50^{\circ}$) Therefore, pennation angles, fascicle lengths, and tissue compliance were found to be joint-angle-dependent in both the affected and unaffected sides at the rest condition. Suggest that, the results data can be used as a muscle architectural changes and clinical treatment research in stroke patients.

• Journal of The Korean Society of Integrative Medicine
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• v.10 no.3
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• pp.199-208
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• 2022

Purpose : The study aimed to examine gender-differences in muscle tone, elasticity, and stiffness of the erector spinae in young and old subjects. This study also aimed to assess the effect of aging on muscle tone, elasticity, and stiffness of the erector spinae in men and women, and compare the trend of the aging effect between the two gender groups. Methods : With the muscle in the relaxed state and subjects in the prone position, a myotonometer was used to quantify muscle tone, elasticity, and stiffness, of the erector spinae in 102 participants[46 males (29 young subjects, aged 22.48±2.23 years and 17 old subjects, aged 76.35±3.71 years), 56 females (40 young subjects, aged 20.38±1.43 years and 16 old subjects, aged 74.56±5.40 years)]. Results : The tone and stiffness of the erector spinae muscles were greater in men than in women for both age groups (p<.001-.01), while elasticity did not show a significant difference between men and women. For the direction of change, both male and female groups showed significantly increased tone and stiffness, and decreased elasticity with increasing age (p<.001). For age-related changes, a different tendency was observed between men and women. Men showed a greater increase in tone than women with aging. in contrast, both men and women exhibited a similar decrease or increase in elasticity and stiffness. Conclusion : Gender-differences in the erector spinae in terms of muscle tone and stiffness were observed. Regardless of the age, men had higher muscle tone and stiffness than women, but not elasticity. The erector spinae muscles showed age-related changes in all aspects of muscle tone, elasticity, and stiffness, in both men and women. Notably, men presented greater variation than women in the amount of increase of muscle tone with aging. These findings have implications for musculoskeletal therapeutic approaches, and gender-customized tuning may be indicated for designing exercise interventions to prevent and manage gender-sensitive muscular injuries or diseases and frailty.

• Journal of Korean Physical Therapy Science
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• v.16 no.2
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• pp.39-44
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• 2009

Background: The purpose of this study was to investigate the comparison between the walking speed and muscle tone of the lower extremity in male and female. Method: The experimental group was that 22 female and 24 male that participated this study. Subjects were measured walking speed and muscle tone. Muscle tone measured using myotonometer. Measured muscle were rectus femoris, vastus medialis, vastus lateralis, biceps femoris, semitendinousus, tibialis anterior, gastrocnemius. Result: The result of this study were that the walking speed were significantly significant(p<.01) in male and female. Muscle tone different in male and female that vastus medialis, vastus lateralis, tibialis anterior and gastrocnemius significantly significant(p<.05). Conclusion: This study showed that difference muscle tone and walking speed in male and female. This indicates that there is an interaction that plays a crucial roles in the walking speed and muscle tone.

• Journal of International Academy of Physical Therapy Research
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• v.2 no.2
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• pp.274-280
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• 2011

This study was designed to analyze repetitive dorsiflexion and plantarflexion exercises in ankles have effects on the muscle tones of triceps, vastus medialis and gastrocnemius. 25 healthy woman volunteers(ankle dorsiflexion exercise group: 13, ankle plantarflexion exercise group: 12) participated in the two ankle exercise models, which have performed 3 times a week for 3 weeks. Myotonometer was used to measure the muscle tones of the triceps, vastus medialis, gastrocnemius muscles, and measurements were performed before and after the application of the each exercise model. Repeated measured paired t-test and independent t-test was used to determine a statistical significance. The group of repetitive dorsiflexion exercise of the ankle have effects on the muscle tones of triceps, vastus medialis and gastrocnemius (p>.05). The group of repetitive plantarflexion exercise of the ankle have effects on the muscle tones of triceps, vastus medialis and gastrocnemius(p>.05). The groups of repetitive dorsiflexion and plantarflexion exercise of the ankle have effects on the muscle tones of triceps, vastus medialis and gastrocnemius(p>.05).

• Journal of International Academy of Physical Therapy Research
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• v.9 no.1
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• pp.1420-1425
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• 2018

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of traction and decompression therapies on the cervical muscle tone and disc height. The decompression group (n=16) received decompression therapy and Mckenzie exercises once a day and four times a week respectively, for three weeks. The traction group (n=15) also received traction therapy and Mckenzie exercises for the same period. Muscle tone was measured with a myotonometer, and the disk height was measured using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), before the interventions. Three weeks later, we investigated the therapeutic effect by repeating these measurements. The difference in disk height between the two groups was not significant. There was a significant difference in the disk herniation index (p<.05). A significant difference was found only in the upper trapezius muscle after comparison of muscle tone and stiffness between the groups (p<.05). Findings from this study suggest that the decompression therapy is a more effective intervention for patients with cervical intervertebral disc herniation.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Physical Medicine
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• v.9 no.4
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• pp.447-454
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• 2014

PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to determine the effect of inclination treadmill training with dynamic stretching on the spasticity and gait of chronic stroke patients. METHODS: Twenty two subjects were randomly assigned to either an experimental group (EG, n=11) or a control group (CG, n=11). Both groups participated in a standard rehabilitation program; in addition, the EG participated in inclination treadmill training for 20 min per day, five times per week, for 4 weeks, and the CG participated in treadmill walking training for 20 min per day, five times per week, for 4 weeks. Outcome measurements, recorded before and post intervention. Walking ability was measured using the 10m walking test (10MWT) and Timed up and go (TUG) test. Spasticity of the medialis gastrocnemius was measured using a myotonometer. RESULTS: Significant differences were observed the both groups for walking ability and spasticity after the training program. The results of the study were follows: 10MWT and TUG was significantly increased in both groups (p<0.05) and it was also found to be significant between groups after intervention (p<0.05). Spasticity was significantly increased in both groups (p<0.05) and it was also found to be significant between the groups after intervention (p<0.05). CONCLUSION: These findings indicate that inclination treadmill training improves gait ability and reduces spasticity of the medialis gastrocnemius. Inclination treadmill training may be used as an easy, effective and accessible way to improve the walking ability and decrease spasticity in stroke patients. Further studies are necessary to generalize the findings of this study.