Keywords
Respiration; Tensiomyography; Lumbosacral; Erector Spinae; Latissimus Dorsi
Abstract
Introduction:
Tensiomyography (TMG) has significant potential in examining muscle functionality while evading the limitations found in other methods muscle analysis. Specifically, the erector spinae and other lumbosacral muscles can be analyzed with little challenge. Such analyses include data on muscle displacement (Dm), delay time (Td), contraction time (Tc), half-relaxation time (Tr), and sustain time (Ts). Of these parameters, the most evaluated and with the highest level of reliability are Dm, Td, and Tc. However, stiffness of the lumbar spine and lumbosacral muscles fluctuates throughout the respiratory cycle. These fluctuations may pose an issue when examining the functionality of muscles. This study aims to understand how such fluctuations alter the parameters measured via TMG and aid in creating a standardized protocol to mitigate differences that arise from increased muscle stiffness throughout the respiratory cycle.
Methods:
Thirty students at the University of Central Florida were examined under four breathing conditions. First, a baseline amplitude for electrical stimulation was found using the TMG machinery. Muscle at end-tidal inspiratory volume (ETIV), end-tidal expiratory volume (ETEV), total lung capacity (TLC), and residual volume (RV) were analyzed. Visual cues were utilized as signals of inhalation (ETIV) and exhalation (ETEV), when the diaphragm expanded and contracted, respectively. Participants were instructed to inhale as much air as possible (TLC) and to exhale all the air from their lungs (RV). Measurements were taken twice at all breathing conditions and the highest of two measurements was utilized for data analysis. This procedure was completed on both the erector spinae (ES) and latissimus dorsi (LD). Paired samples T-tests were run to compare data sets from the four respiration levels.
Results:
Ten males and 20 females [average age: 21.067 ± 1.552, average body mass: 64.818 kg ± 14.503, average height: 168.063 cm ± 9.940] participated in the study. When comparing measurements for ES taken at ETIV and ETEV, differences Dm (p < 0.001), Tr (p = 0.010), and Ts (p < 0.001) were statistically significant. For comparisons between ETIV and TLC, Dm (p = 0.017) differences were statistically significant. ETEV and TLC analyses showed Dm (p < 0.001), Tr (p = 0.024), and Ts (p < 0.001) were statistically significant. Comparisons for ETEV and RV illustrated significantly different Dm (p < 0.001), Tr (p = 0.011), and Ts (p = 0.002) values. For LD, no comparisons were statistically significant.
Discussion:
The erector spinae functions differently at various points of respiration. When utilizing tools like tensiomyography, it is important to understand that data collected on erector spinae may be skewed based on the respiratory conditions of a participant at a given time.
This is the first study to explicitly examine how respiratory conditions can skew TMG measurements. This data serves to illustrate that muscle function is different throughout the respiratory cycle. Therefore, data collected using TMG on muscles that are affected by respiration may not be accurate to the true functioning of the muscle. This finding should be built upon to create a standardized protocol for analyzing muscles such as the erector spinae. Doing so would ensure all TMG analyses are valid, and diagnoses are accurate.
Thesis Completion Year
2025
Thesis Completion Semester
Spring
Thesis Chair
Hanney, William
College
College of Health Professions and Sciences
Department
Physical Therapy
Thesis Discipline
Physical Therapy
Language
English
Access Status
Open Access
Length of Campus Access
None
Campus Location
Orlando (Main) Campus
STARS Citation
Trombetta, Anthony, "Respiratory Cycle Influence on Lumbosacral Muscle Function: a Tensiomyographic Analysis" (2025). Honors Undergraduate Theses. 243.
https://stars.library.ucf.edu/hut2024/243
Rights Statement
