Tensiomyography

Tensiomyography (TMG) is a measuring method for detection of skeletal muscles’ contractile properties. Tensiomyography assesses muscle mechanical response based on radial muscle belly displacement induced by the single electrical stimulus. It is most commonly performed using TMG S1 system. Tensiomyography measurement instrument includes an electrical stimulator and data acquisition subunit (1), mechanical sensor (2), tripod with manipulating hand (3) and electrodes (4) that work with an essential software interface install on a PC.

Tensiomyography is a non-invasive method for measuring mechanical properties of superficial skeletal muscle. Tensiomyography data can be used for determination of muscle fiber type (comparing displacement signal and muscle histochemistry/ heavy chain myosin amount20) and muscles status/condition (fatigue, potentiation, inhibition, stress influence on the body, etc.), the diagnosis of a functional muscular symmetry, either temporal or morphological, the evaluation of muscular synchronization, fast detection of an infra-clinical lesion of the muscle in situ (less than 5 minutes).

A tensiomyography measurement consists of four steps:

Tensiomyography specific software on a 1 kHz frequency receives tensiomyography signals. Two supra-maximal responses are stored and then the average is calculated. The supra-maximal stimulation is regarded as corresponding to a minimal stimulation and it determines maximum amplitude of muscular deformation, recorded as Dm.

TMG method output is a displacement-time signal evaluated with standard parameters.

Some recent studies have also elected to examine Contraction velocity (Vc) as a change in Dm over time between 10% and 90% of the contraction.

Tensiomyography is a simple to use selective and non-invasive method for detecting skeletal muscle contractile parameters using the linear displacement sensor. It assesses skeletal muscle thickening and low frequency lateral oscillations of active skeletal muscle fibers during twitch contractions. Future directions should be multidimensional: further validation especially with muscle force; increasing the research power of established theories; determining the trends of physiological processes and adaptations through longitudinal designs; characterizing muscle fatigue, and developing its application in dynamic muscle contractions. Tensiomyography was originally designed to be used by medical professionals but has transitioned from medicine, through sports medicine and is now being utilized in sports training programs and post trauma rehabilitation. Because of its non-invasive nature, tensiomyography provides rapid accurate diagnostic data without discomfort or disruption of the routine of the person whose muscles are being assessed.

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