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Review
. 2022 Mar 27;22(7):2565.
doi: 10.3390/s22072565.

Scapular Dynamic Muscular Stiffness Assessed through Myotonometry: A Narrative Review

Affiliations
Review

Scapular Dynamic Muscular Stiffness Assessed through Myotonometry: A Narrative Review

Ana S C Melo et al. Sensors (Basel). .

Abstract

Several tools have been used to assess muscular stiffness. Myotonometry stands out as an accessible, handheld, and easy to use tool. The purpose of this review was to summarize the psychometric properties and methodological considerations of myotonometry and its applicability in assessing scapular muscles. Myotonometry seems to be a reliable method to assess several muscles stiffness, as trapezius. This method has been demonstrated fair to moderate correlation with passive stiffness measured by shear wave elastography for several muscles, as well as with level of muscle contraction, pinch and muscle strength, Action Research Arm Test score and muscle or subcutaneous thickness. Myotonometry can detect scapular muscles stiffness differences between pre- and post-intervention in painful conditions and, sometimes, between symptomatic and asymptomatic subjects.

Keywords: muscle mechanics; myotonometry; scapular muscles; stiffness.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare no conflict of interest. The funders had no role in the design of the study; in the collection, analyses, or interpretation of data; in the writing of the manuscript, or in the decision to publish the results.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Myotonometry tool and its specifications: a—Equipment, b—Coefficient of variation, c—Probe function, d—Measurement point, e—Adjacent tissue, f—Eligible muscles.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Graphical representation of the variables used in dynamic stiffness calculation.
Figure 3
Figure 3
Trapezius muscles assessment points: (a) upper trapezius C5/6 level; (b) upper trapezius C7 level; (c) middle trapezius; (d) lower trapezius.
Figure 4
Figure 4
Upper trapezius muscles grid of measurement points.
Figure 5
Figure 5
Serratus anterior and levator assessment points: (e) levator scapulae; (f) SA upper/middle portion; (g) SA lower portion.
Figure 6
Figure 6
Summary of narrative review information regarding scapular dynamic muscular stiffness assessment through myotonometry and identification of the issues to be considered in future studies (LS: levator scapulae; LT: lower trapezius; MT: middle trapezius; SA: serratus anterior; UT: upper trapezius).

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