Measurement of ageing effects on muscle tone and mechanical properties of rectus femoris and biceps brachii in healthy males and females using a novel hand-held myometric device

Abstract

Please cite this article as: Agyapong-Badu, Sandra, Warner, Martin, Samuel, Dinesh, Stokes, Maria, Measurement of ageing effects on muscle tone and mechanical properties of rectus femoris and biceps brachii in healthy males and females using a novel hand-held myometric device.Archives of Gerontology and Geriatrics http://dx.doi.org/10. 1016/j.archger.2015.09.011 This is a PDF file of an unedited manuscript that has been accepted for publication. As a service to our customers we are providing this early version of the manuscript. The manuscript will undergo copyediting, typesetting, and review of the resulting proof before it is published in its final form. Please note that during the production process errors may be discovered which could affect the content, and all legal disclaimers that apply to the journal pertain. Monitoring changes in muscle properties with ageing in community settings may provide a valuable assessment tool for detecting those at risk of premature decline and sarcopenia.Objective: This study aimed to provide objective data on the effects of ageing and gender on muscle tone and mechanical properties of quadriceps (rectus femoris) and biceps brachii muscles.Methods: In a comparative study of 123 healthy males and females (aged 18-90 years; n=61 aged18-35; n=62 aged 65-90) muscle tone, elasticity and stiffness were measured using the MyotonPRO device.Results: Stiffness was greater and elasticity lower in older adults for BB and RF (p<0.001). Tone was significantly greater in older adults for BB but not for RF when data for males and females were combined (p=0.28). There were no gender differences for BB in either age group. In RF, males had greater stiffness (young males 292 vs females 233 N/m; older males 328 vs females 311 N/m) and tone (young 16.4 vs 13.6 Hz; older 16.7 vs 14.9 Hz).Elasticity in RF was lower in young males than females but did not differ between the older groups (both males and females log decrement 1.6).Conclusions: Stiffness and tone increased with ageing and elasticity decreased. These findings have implications for detecting frailty using a novel biomarker. Age and gender differences are important to consider when assessing effects of pathological conditions on muscle properties in older people.

Psychometric Properties of the MyotonPRO in Dementia Patients with Paratonia

“…Bias induced by this variability cannot be completely ruled out but is an undeniable and essential clinical presentation of dementia patients with paratonia. Although it is suggested that a series of 10 taps is sufficient for Myoton measurement [21], van Deun et al [22] …”

“…An upper limb is also affected earlier by paratonia than a lower limb [1]. Because of the importance in upper arm functionality, the m. biceps brachii was also used in other Myoton studies [11,12,15,16,19,21,22].…”

“…The MyotonPRO was placed respectively on the left and right m. biceps brachii in the middle of the muscle belly which was detected by visual inspection and palpation (at approximately 1/3 of the distance between the cubital fossa and the lateral tip of the acromion) and marked with a skin marker. The multiscan mode consisting of 10 single measurements with a 1-s interval was used, resulting in a mean and coefficient of variation (CV) for the 10 measurements (i.e., one measurement set) [17,[19][20][21]. In order to register satisfactory measurements, the CV of the parameters should be less than 3% [25].…”

“…To measure muscle properties such as tone, elasticity, stiffness, creep, and mechanical stress relaxation (MSR) time, the Myoton device is available. A Myoton measurement is an objective, quickly applicable, painless, and noninvasive method which has been validated and proved to be reliable for patients with stroke (mean age ranging from 54.7 to 67.5 years) [12][13][14], upper motor neuron disorders (mean age ranging from 47.5 to 54.7 years) [10,13], Parkinson disease (mean age ranging from 61.3 to 77.3 years) [15,16], and in healthy subjects (mean age ranging from 24.5 to 71.7 years) [17][18][19][20][21]. Recently, the MyotonPRO has been studied in a small group (n = 16, age ranging from 70 to 98 years) of patients with paratonia and demonstrated low to high interrater reliability, moderate to high between series intrarater reliability, and poor to moderate between day intrarater reliability and agreement [22].…”

Correlation between Mechanical Properties of the Ankle Muscles and Postural Sway during the Menstrual Cycle

“…The ratio a max · m /Δl describes the dynamic stiffness of the tissue (N/m). Natural log of maximum displacement (tissue resistance measured in mG) divided by maximum displacement of the second period of oscillation which takes place due to the recuperation of stored residual mechanical energy in tissue expresses the dampening ratio due to the dissipation of mechanical energy in the tissue during one oscilla-tion cycle (Gavronski et al 2007;Agyapong-Badu et al 2016). …”