Author/Editor		Knez, Nataša; Valenčič, Vojko; Blenkuš, Roman
Title		Measurements and mathematical modelling of a skeletal muscle belly response
Type		članek
Source		In: Kononenko I, Urbančič T, editors. CADAM-97. Zbornik Računalniška analiza medicinskih podatkov; 1997 nov 12; Bled. Ljubljana: Inštitut Jožef Stefan,
Publication year		1997
Volume		str. 75-86
Language		eng
Abstract		Many studies have been completed to determine how muscles work. One of the aspects to study is the muscle response, and one problem is how to measure this response. The main aim of this study was to build a non-invasive measuring system that would be simple to use and would measure the muscle response as close to the muscle as possible. The measuring method was based on a magnetic displacement sensor measuring the muscle belly response. During the measurements the sensor was placed adjacent to the skin over the muscle and measured radial movements of the muscle belly. Voluntary contraction and the muscle response to single twitch electrical stimulation were measured. Different skeletal muscles or muscle groups have been tested in the study. Comparison of different measuring techniques was made and the influence of different parameters has been proven. Some biomechanical characteristics of different muscles have been studied. The rise time of the muscle belly response was the characteristic parameter for this study. The comparison of muscles' responses in terms of the valucs of their rise time parameters confirmed their identities as slow or fast muscles. The value of the rise time parameter of a fast muscle was five times lower than the value of the parameter of a slow muscle. The measuring method was used in clinical environment on persons after above or below knee amputation and in athletes. Although the question remains as to how the available measuring techniques provide estimation of skeletal muscle's dynamic properties, this proposed measuring method contributes to a better understanding of skeletal muscleš dynamic properties. It offers a possible way of studying the muscle structure from the muscle's response to electrical stimulation in a simple non-invasive way.
Descriptors		MUSCLE, SKELETAL ELECTROMYOGRAPHY AMPUTATION LEG MODELS, THEORETICAL