Wilke Jan, Vogt Lutz, Pfarr Tatjana, Banzer Winfried
J Back Musculoskelet Rehabil. 2018;31(5):991-997. doi: 10.3233/BMR-170871.
Most methods assessing soft tissue stiffness are associated with high costs and considerable technical effort. A previous study demonstrated that the tissue compliance meter represents an affordable alternative with straightforward handling. However, little data exists describing its measurement properties.
The study aimed to elucidate the reliability and validity of a semi-electronic tissue compliance meter (STCM).
Tissue stiffness at the lateral calf was examined in 34 healthy participants (24 ± 5 yrs, 21 men). Measurements on two consecutive days were used to estimate test-retest reliability, day-to-day reliability and inter-rater reliability. Validity was examined twofold. Firstly, STCM data were correlated with those of another method, the myotonometry. Secondly, STCM measurements at different levels of isometric contraction (M.gastrocnemius) were examined for systematic differences.
Intraclass correlations (ICC) revealed high test-retest reliability (ICC 0.84, 95% CI: 0.70 to 0.92; p< 0.05) and day-to-day reliability (0.84, 0.71 to 0.92; p< 0.05). Inter-rater reliability was sufficient to good (0.75, 0.56 to 0.87; p< 0.05). Cross-validation with myotonometry revealed a strong correlation of both methods (r= 0.86; p< 0.05). Stiffness assessments during isometric contraction demonstrated that the STCM can discriminate different force levels (χ2= 57.1, p< 0.05).
The STCM provides valid and reliable measurements of tissue stiffness. Further study is needed to provide norm values for different body regions and to reveal alterations in patients with musculoskeletal disorders.
大多数评估软组织硬度的方法成本高昂且技术要求高。先前的一项研究表明，组织顺应性测量仪是一种经济实惠且操作简便的替代方法。然而，关于其测量特性的数据很少。
本研究旨在阐明半电子组织顺应性测量仪（STCM）的可靠性和有效性。
对34名健康参与者（24±5岁，21名男性）的小腿外侧组织硬度进行检查。连续两天的测量用于评估重测可靠性、每日可靠性和评分者间可靠性。有效性通过两种方式进行检查。首先，将STCM数据与另一种方法——肌张力测量法的数据进行相关性分析。其次，检查在不同等长收缩水平（腓肠肌）下的STCM测量值是否存在系统差异。
组内相关性（ICC）显示出高重测可靠性（ICC 0.84，95%CI：0.70至0.92；p<0.05）和每日可靠性（0.84，0.71至0.92；p<0.05）。评分者间可靠性足够好（0.75，0.56至0.87；p<0.05）。与肌张力测量法的交叉验证显示两种方法具有很强的相关性（r = 0.86；p<0.05）。等长收缩期间的硬度评估表明，STCM可以区分不同的力水平（χ2 = 57.1，p<0.05）。
STCM提供了有效且可靠的组织硬度测量。需要进一步研究以提供不同身体部位的正常值，并揭示肌肉骨骼疾病患者的变化。
