Affiliations: [a] Department of Physical Therapy and Graduate Institute of Rehabilitation Science, College of Medicine, Chang Gung University, Taoyuan, Taiwan | [b] Department of Electrical Engineering, College of Engineering, Chang Gung University, Taoyuan, Taiwan | [c] Department of Mechanical Engineering and Graduate Institute of Medical Mechatronics, College of Engineering, Chang Gung University, Taoyuan, Taiwan | [d] Healthy Aging Research Center, Chang Gung University, Taoyuan, Taiwan | [e] Division of Physical Therapy, Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Chiayi Chang Gung Memorial Hosipital, Chiayi, Puzi, Taiwan | [f] National Keelung Special Education School, Keelung, Taiwan
Correspondence:
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Corresponding author: Yang-Hua Lin, Department of Physical Therapy, College of Medical, Chang Gung University, 259, Wen-Hwa 1st Rd, Gweishan, Taoyuan 333, Taiwan. Tel.: +886 3 2118800 5438; Fax: +886 3 2118700; E-mail: linyh@mail.cgu.edu.tw.
Abstract: BACKGROUND: Mechanomyography (MMG) has been used to investigate mechanical characteristics of muscle contraction in clinical and experimental settings. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to determine the test-retest reliability of mechanomyographic amplitude (MMGRMS) measurements as a tool for measuring the maximal voluntary isometric contractions (MVICs) of trunk muscles in healthy participants. METHODS: There were ten young adults participating in this study. Accelerometers were used to detect surface MMG signals from three trials of 5-s MVICs of the rectus abdominis, external obliques, erector spinae, and multifidus in the vertical, transverse, and longitudinal directions. Intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC), standard error of measurement (SEM), and minimum detectable change were calculated. RESULTS: Good to excellent test-retest reliability of mechanomyographic amplitude (MMGRMS) measurements was achieved for all MVICs of trunk muscles in healthy participants, as indicated by ICCs ranging from 0.99 to 0.64 for MMGRMS of the trunk muscles during MVIC. CONCLUSIONS: This study demonstrates that MMG is a reliable measurement to detect the activation amplitudes of trunk muscles during MVIC.
