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Reference values for muscle stiffness and asymmetry using myotonometry: a pilot study.

Seth Spicer¹, Adam Friedman¹, Dan Yacubovich¹

¹Rowan-Virtua School of Osteopathic Medicine, Sewell, NJ, USA.

The Journal of Manual & Manipulative Therapy

|November 17, 2025

Summary

This summary is machine-generated.

This study found that male adults have higher resting muscle stiffness than females. Preliminary reference values for muscle stiffness and asymmetry were established for young adults using the MyotonPRO device.

Keywords:

Myotonometry muscle stiffness musculoskeletal assessment sex differences

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Myo-mechanical Analysis of Isolated Skeletal Muscle

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Published on: February 22, 2011

Area of Science:

Musculoskeletal health
Biomechanical properties
Human physiology

Background:

Establishing reference values for muscle stiffness and bilateral asymmetry is crucial for accurate musculoskeletal assessments.
Understanding the influence of factors like sex, age, BMI, and exercise on these properties is essential.

Purpose of the Study:

To establish preliminary reference values for resting muscle stiffness and bilateral asymmetry in healthy young adults.
To investigate the associations between muscle stiffness, asymmetry, and demographic/lifestyle factors (sex, age, BMI, weekly exercise).

Main Methods:

A cross-sectional observational pilot study was conducted with 26 healthy young adults (18-29 years).
Resting muscle stiffness and bilateral asymmetry were measured across seven muscle groups using the MyotonPRO device.
Statistical analyses explored associations with sex, age, body mass index (BMI), and weekly exercise levels.

Main Results:

Sex was the only significant predictor of overall muscle stiffness, with males exhibiting higher stiffness than females (236.2 ± 30.8 N/m vs 196.2 ± 23.7 N/m).
Age, BMI, and weekly exercise were not significant predictors of muscle stiffness.
Average bilateral asymmetry was found to be small (10-14%), consistent with physiological differences.

Conclusions:

The MyotonPRO device is feasible for establishing reference ranges for muscle stiffness and asymmetry.
These reference values can aid musculoskeletal assessments in osteopathic and sports medicine.
Larger studies are needed to refine reference intervals and correlate stiffness with patient outcomes.