Related Experiment Video
Updated: Nov 28, 2025
Isokinetic Robotic Device to Improve Test-Retest and Inter-Rater Reliability for Stretch Reflex Measurements in Stroke Patients with Spasticity
Published on: June 12, 2019
Interrater and Intrarater Reliability of a Handheld Myotonometer in Measuring Mechanical Properties of the Neck and
Serkan Taş1, Ümit Yaşar2, Besime Ahu Kaynak1
1Toros University, School of Health Sciences, Department of Physiotherapy and Rehabilitation, Mersin, Turkey.
Objective:
The purpose this study was to investigate the reliability of a handheld myotonometer in measuring the mechanical properties of the neck and orofacial muscles in asymptomatic individuals.
Methods:
The study included 16 healthy participants. The mechanical properties (frequency, decrement, stiffness, relaxation time, and creep) of the selected muscles were measured with a MyotonPRO myotonometer (Mumeetria Ltd, Tallinn, Estonia). The sternocleidomastoid, upper trapezius, cervical extensor, and masseter muscles were selected to determine the reliability of the device. Measurements were performed by 2 examiners to determine interrater reliability; for intrarater reliability, an examiner repeated the measurements 1 week after the first measurements.
Results:
The results revealed moderate to excellent intrarater and interrater reliability (intraclass correlation coefficients: 0.50-0.95) in measuring muscle mechanic properties. The standard error of measurement in the tested muscles ranged from 0.3 to 0.8 Hz for frequency, from 7.4 to 20.9 N/m for stiffness, from 0.1 to 0.2 for decrement, and from 0.8 to 1.4 ms for relaxation time. The minimum detectable change ranged from 0.8 to 2.2 Hz for frequency, from 20.5 to 57.9 N/m for stiffness, from 0.2 to 0.6 for decrement, from 2.2 to 3.9 ms for relaxation time, and from 0.2 to 0.3 for creep. In addition, the coefficients of variation were below 9.1% for all the assessed parameters.
Conclusion:
The obtained results demonstrate that the MyotonPRO device is a reliable and repeatable tool to quantify the frequency, stiffness, decrement, relation time, and creep of the neck and orofacial muscles in asymptomatic individuals.
