Measurement of muscle hardness: a methodological study
Measurement of muscle hardness: a methodological study
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DOI：
10.1046/j.1468-2982.1998.1802106.x
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发表时间：
1998-03-01
期刊：
影响因子：
4.9
通讯作者：
Olesen, J
中科院分区：
文献类型：
--
作者：
Ashina, M;Bendtsen, L;Olesen, J
本研究的目的是确定在使用一种新的仪器，即所谓的硬度计测量肌肉硬度时，观察者内和观察者间的变化。此外，我们还调查了可能影响肌肉硬度记录的因素以及同一肌肉内的硬度是否不同。按随机顺序由2名观察者在标准伪装条件下对20名志愿者的斜方肌进行硬度测量，其中1名观察者在30分钟后再次测量。然后在斜方肌的3个不同位置测量肌肉硬度。此外，两个观察者在3种不同的施压速度下测量了10名志愿者在标准点的肌肉硬度。对于肌肉硬度的记录，观察者内变异为10%，观察者间变异为12%。同一观察者之间的硬度值没有显著差异(p=0.12)，而不同观察者之间的硬度测量值有显著差异(p=0.007)。3个解剖部位的肌肉硬度差异有统计学意义(p=0.03)。对于两个观察者，在3种不同速度下获得的硬度记录之间有显著差异(p=0.01和p=0.0001)。总而言之，我们已经证明，如果在整个研究过程中使用相同的观察者，硬度计可以可靠地测量肌肉硬度。速度因素是变异的一个主要来源，此外，我们已经证明了肌肉硬度在同一肌肉中是不同的。我们认为，肌肉硬度计将是未来研究导致肌筋膜痛的机制的重要工具。
The aim of the present study was to determine the intra- and interobserver variation during measurement of muscle hardness with a new instrument, a so-called hardness meter. In addition, we investigated the factors which may influence the recording of muscle hardness and whether the hardness differs within the same muscle. Hardness was measured at a standardized Feint on the trapezius muscle in 20 volunteers by 2 observers in random order and again by 1 of the observers after 30 min. Muscle hardness was then measured at 3 different locations on the trapezius muscle. Ln addition, the muscle hardness at the standard point was measured in 10 volunteers by both observers at 3 different speeds of the applied pressure. The intraobserver variation was 10% and the interobserver variation was 12% for recording of muscle hardness. There was no significant difference in hardness values from time to time within the same observer (p=0.12), while there was a significant difference in hardness measurements between observers (p=0.007). Muscle hardness differed significantly among the 3 anatomical locations (p=0.03). For both observers, there was a significant difference among hardness recordings obtained at 3 different speeds (p=0.01 and p=0.0001). In conclusion we have shown that the hardness meter can measure muscle hardness reliably if the same observer is used throughout a study. The speed factor was a major source of variability In addition, we have demonstrated that muscle hardness differs within the same muscle. We suggest that the muscle hardness meter will be an important tool in future research of the mechanisms leading to myofascial pain.