Estimating Quadriceps and Hamstrings Strength Through Myoton Among Recreational Athletes

Abstract

Context: The assessment of strength is one of the most usual practices among professionals involved in health care or sport. Quadriceps and hamstrings are the most commonly assessed muscle groups. Generally, the methods used to assess muscle strength are active and, therefore, alternative passive methods could be useful. Myoton provides measures on 3 mechanical properties of the muscle: tone, elasticity, and stiffness. Objective: This study aimed to analyze the association of Myoton, an easy-to-use tool not requiring voluntary stimulus from the subject, with strength values in quadriceps and hamstrings. Study Design: Experimental. Setting: University kinesiology laboratory. Participants: Thirty-eight recreational athletes were evaluated. Main Outcome Measures: Anthropometric and demographic data, Myoton-based measures of vastus lateralis, rectus femoris, vastus medialis, biceps femoris, and semitendinosus, and the maximum voluntary isometric contraction of quadriceps and hamstrings. Procedures: The association was examined using multiple regression models to estimate strength through Myoton-based parameters and different patient characteristics. The models encompassed either 2 or 3 independent variables. Results: The adjusted R2 values for predicting quadriceps strength were .666 for rectus femoris, .726 for vastus lateralis, and .667 for vastus medialis, while in regard to hamstrings, they were .617 for biceps femoris and .604 for semitendinosus. Conclusions: The main finding was that acceptable relationships were found between muscle strength and Myoton-based parameters when variables such as gender and/or age are considered. Our study reveals a new tool for estimating strength with outstanding advantages: it is easy, time-efficient, adaptable, and highly manageable through the feasible equations provided.