Ashina M, Bendtsen L, Jensen R, Sakai F, Olesen J
Department of Neurology, Glostrup Hospital, University of Copenhagen, Denmark.
Cephalalgia. 1998 Mar;18(2):106-11. doi: 10.1046/j.1468-2982.1998.1802106.x.
The aim of the present study was to determine the intra- and interobserver variation during measurement of muscle hardness with a new instrument, a so-called hardness meter. In addition, we investigated the factors which may influence the recording of muscle hardness and whether the hardness differs within the same muscle. Hardness was measured at a standardized point on the trapezius muscle in 20 volunteers by 2 observers in random order and again by 1 of the observers after 30 min. Muscle hardness was then measured at 3 different locations on the trapezius muscle. In addition, the muscle hardness at the standard point was measured in 10 volunteers by both observers at 3 different speeds of the applied pressure. The intraobserver variation was 10% and the interobserver variation was 12% for recording of muscle hardness. There was no significant difference in hardness values from time to time within the same observer (p=0.12), while there was a significant difference in hardness measurements between observers (p=0.007). Muscle hardness differed significantly among the 3 anatomical locations (p=0.03). For both observers, there was a significant difference among hardness recordings obtained at 3 different speeds (p=0.01 and p=0.0001). In conclusion, we have shown that the hardness meter can measure muscle hardness reliably if the same observer is used throughout a study. The speed factor was a major source of variability In addition, we have demonstrated that muscle hardness differs within the same muscle. We suggest that the muscle hardness meter will be an important tool in future research of the mechanisms leading to myofascial pain.
本研究的目的是使用一种新仪器，即所谓的硬度计，来确定在测量肌肉硬度过程中观察者内部和观察者之间的差异。此外，我们研究了可能影响肌肉硬度记录的因素，以及同一肌肉内的硬度是否存在差异。2名观察者以随机顺序对20名志愿者斜方肌上的一个标准化点进行肌肉硬度测量，30分钟后，其中1名观察者再次进行测量。然后在斜方肌的3个不同位置测量肌肉硬度。此外，2名观察者以3种不同的施压速度对10名志愿者的标准点处的肌肉硬度进行测量。肌肉硬度记录的观察者内部差异为10%，观察者之间的差异为12%。同一观察者不同时间的硬度值无显著差异（p = 0.12），而观察者之间的硬度测量存在显著差异（p = 0.007）。3个解剖位置的肌肉硬度存在显著差异（p = 0.03）。对于2名观察者而言，在3种不同速度下获得的硬度记录之间均存在显著差异（p = 0.01和p = 0.0001）。总之，我们已经表明，如果在整个研究中使用同一观察者，硬度计能够可靠地测量肌肉硬度。速度因素是变异性的一个主要来源。此外，我们已经证明同一肌肉内的硬度存在差异。我们认为肌肉硬度计将成为未来研究导致肌筋膜疼痛机制的重要工具。
