The Reliabililty and Validity of The Myotonometer as a Measure of Hamstring Muscle Stiffness

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Bell, Sarah
- Affiliation: College of Arts and Sciences, Department of Exercise and Sport Science

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to determine the reliability and validity of The Myotonometer in measuring hamstring stiffness, while also considering the following factors as predictors of hamstring stiffness when measured with The Myotonometer: tissue compliance, and rate of loading. Thirty-three physically active subjects participated in the study. The subjects' stiffness was measured using the Oscillation Technique while being tethered to laboratory equipment and a measurement computer as well as measured using The Myotonometer. Our findings reveal that The Myotonometer possesses high intrasession and interrater reliability. However, the results also indicate that The Myotonometer is not a valid measure of hamstring stiffness relative to the Oscillation Technique. Although The Mytonometer does not measure active muscle stiffness as the Oscillation Technique does, it does have high reliability and portability and can be used to measure tissue compliance and the effectiveness of treatments in the clinical setting. Future research should focus on portable and clinically applicable tools to measure active hamstring stiffness in efforts to prevent and monitor injuries.

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