Correlation between Physical Performance and Tensiomyographic and Myotonometric Parameters in Older Adults

Noé Labata-Lezaun; Vanessa González-Rueda; Luis Llurda-Almuzara; Carlos López-de-Celis; Jacobo Rodríguez-Sanz; Aida Cadellans-Arróniz; Joan Bosch; Albert Pérez-Bellmunt

doi:10.3390/healthcare11152169

Correlation between Physical Performance and Tensiomyographic and Myotonometric Parameters in Older Adults

Healthcare (Basel). 2023 Jul 31;11(15):2169. doi: 10.3390/healthcare11152169.

Authors

Noé Labata-Lezaun^{1

2}, Vanessa González-Rueda^{2

3

4}, Luis Llurda-Almuzara^{2

5}, Carlos López-de-Celis^{2

3

4}, Jacobo Rodríguez-Sanz^{1

2}, Aida Cadellans-Arróniz³, Joan Bosch¹, Albert Pérez-Bellmunt^{1

2}

Affiliations

¹ Department of Basic Sciences, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Universitat Internacional de Catalunya, 08195 Sant Cugat del Vallès, Spain.
² ACTIUM Functional Anatomy Group, Universitat Internacional de Catalunya, 08195 Sant Cugat del Vallès, Spain.
³ Physiotherapy Department, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Universitat Internacional de Catalunya, 08195 Sant Cugat del Vallès, Spain.
⁴ Fundació Institut Universitari per a la Recerca a l'Atenció Primària de Salut Jordi Gol i Gurina (IDIAPJGol), 08007 Barcelona, Spain.
⁵ Physiotherapy Department, Faculty of Health Sciences, European University of Gasteiz-EUNEIZ, La Biosfera Ibilbidea, 6, 01013 Vitoria-Gasteiz, Spain.

Abstract

Background: To examine the correlation between physical performance and muscle strength and the variables obtained from tensiomyography and myotonometry.

Methods: Fifty-two older adults able to complete functional tests participated in this observational study. Variables of maximal radial muscle displacement (Dm) and contraction time (Tc) (using tensiomyography) and muscle stiffness (using myotonometry) of the rectus femoris and vastus lateralis muscles were assessed. Physical performance (Short Physical Performance Battery, Timed Up and Go, Five Times Sit to Stand, and walking speed), isometric knee extension strength, and grip strength were assessed. A correlation analysis was performed between all the variables.

Results: A significant correlation between the Short Physical Performance Battery and the rectus femoris (rho = 0.491) and vastus lateralis Dm (rho = 0.329) was found. Significant correlations between the Five Times Sit to Stand Test and the Dm values of the rectus femoris (rho = -0.340) and Dm (rho = -0.304), and stiffness (rho = -0.345) in the vastus lateralis, were also found. No significant correlations were found between tensiomyography and myotonometry, the Timed Up and Go, and walking speed, nor between tensiomyography and myotonometry and grip strength or isometric knee extension strength.

Conclusions: Functional tests should be prioritized in the assessment of older adults, but further research into muscle quality using technology is advisable.

Keywords: elderly; muscle quality; myotonometry; physical functional performance; tensiomyography.

Grants and funding

This study was supported by Collegi de Fisioterapeutes de Catalunya, “Convocatòria 2022 d’ajuts a la recerca”, resolution 003/2022 of 12 July 2022 with code R07/22. The funding entity had no role in the study design, data collection, analysis, interpretation of data, manuscript writing or submission for publication. 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.