IntroductionMyotonometric measuring devices have become increasingly popular in assessing viscoelastic properties of muscles that has application before and after applying physiotherapy treatments, because they are non-invasive, portable and easy to administer [1]. Myotonometic measurement can provide information about muscle stiffness, oscillation frequency, and muscle decrement for injury identification and status monitoring of skeletal muscles [1][2][3][4]. Changes in viscoelastic properties are usually linked to work and sports related overuse and overtraining syndromes [5]. Measurements, which do not produce consistent results, cannot be considered valid. To date, few studies have investigated the reliability of muscle stiffness, oscillation frequency, and decrement measurements [6][7][8].It is normal to have some asymmetry between two sides, as we tend to use muscles of the dominant side more. Racket sports players and patients with neuromuscular deficits could have even higher degree of asymmetry. The study of side-to side symmetry in muscle properties in non-professional sports players should be developed in order to evaluate the degree of asymmetry in pathologic or injury condition [8,9]. Muscles can be categorized into tonic and phasic type muscles according to their distinct functions and properties [10,11], which may be associated with the viscoelastic properties and the degree of the symmetry between both sides of healthy muscles. The objective of the present study was to comprehensively evaluate the reliability and side-to-side asymmetry in the three variables of common phasic and tonic muscles during relaxed state. Such information has application in muscle assessment when providing appropriate training and rehabilitation prescriptions. Materials and MethodsFourteen healthy physical active male participants took part in this study on two consecutive days. Their mean age was 29.3 ± 9.2 y, their mean height was 1.75 ± 0.06 m, and their mean body mass was 68.9 ± 8.7 kg. They were all non-professional sports players and were all right handedness, as determined using the Edinburgh Handedness Inventory [9]. Participants were required to avoid strenuous physical exercise between test sessions and to return for the second session the following day. This design aimed to minimize the fatigue effect due to episodic physical activity. Written consent was obtained from the subjects and the testing procedure was approved by the Ethical Committee of the University.Bilateral recordings of the mechanical properties of eleven muscle sites in relaxed state were measured using a Myometer (Myoton-3, Müomeetria AS, Tallinn, Estonia). The testing end (mass, 20 g; diameter, 3 mm) of the myometer was placed on and perpendicular to the target muscle. A mechanical impulse (force, 0.4N; period, 15 ms) was applied on the underlying tissues by the testing end to induce Abstract Background: Myotonometric measurement provides information about the muscle properties before and after
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