Open Access Open Access  Restricted Access Subscription Access
Open Access Open Access Open Access  Restricted Access Restricted Access Subscription Access

Intra-Rater Reliability of the Shore Durometer in the Assessment of Upper Trapezius Muscle Hardness


Affiliations
1 Department of Physical Therapy, Catholic University of Pusan, 57, Oryundae-ro, Geumjeong-gu, Busan, Korea, Democratic People's Republic of
     

   Subscribe/Renew Journal


Background/ Objectives: This study aims to measure the reliability of the Shore durometer in assessing the hardness of the upper trapezius, providing the basis for muscle hardness measurement. Methods/Statistical analysis: The subjects of this study were 30 healthy adult males. After typing for 20 minutes, the subjects’ trapezius muscle hardness was measured while they were in a supine position. This process was repeated for six days. Their muscle hardness was measured three times per day, and the average value of the three measurements was used for analysis. To assess the reliability of the measured results, intra-class correlation coefficients were calculated. Findings: The result was that the intra-rater reliabilities of the left upper trapezius and of the right upper trapezius were 0.827 and 0.816, respectively. The Shore durometer has a high level of intra-rater reliability in measuring upper trapezius muscle hardness. Improvements/Applications: The Shore durometer can provide reproducible results of the upper trapezius muscle’s hardness when repetitively measured by the same measurer.


Keywords

Durometer, Hardness Tester, Intra-Rater Reliability, Shore C Durometer, Upper Trapezius.
Subscription Login to verify subscription
User
Notifications
Font Size


  • O’Sullivan S B, Schmitz T J, Fulk G, Physical rehabilitation. FA Davis, 2007.
  • Lundy-Ekman, Neuroscience: fundamentals for rehabilitation. Elsevier Health Sciences, 2013.
  • Gregson J M, Leathley M, Moore A P, Sharma A K, Smith T L, Watkins C L, Reliability of the Tone Assessment Scale and the Modified Ashworth Scale as Clinical Tools for Assessing Poststroke Spasticity. Arch Phys Med Rehabil, 1999, 80(9), pp.1013-016.
  • An C S, An Y H, Lee M H, The Effect on the Tension Trapezius Muscle of the Height Keyboard Computer. J Korean Soc Phys Ther, 2006, 18(6), pp.67-75.
  • (http://www.kptjournal.org/journal/view.html?uid=687&page=&pn=mostread&sort=publish_Date%20DESC&spage=&vmd=Full)
  • Horikawa M, Ebihara S, Sakai F, Akiyama M, Non-invasive measurement method for hardness in muscular tissues. Med Biol Eng Comput, 1993, 31(6), pp.623-27.
  • Nagao M, Yatabe K, Konno S, Endo K, Yokota O, Development of a Finger-Shaped Muscle Hardness Tester and Its Mesurement Cases. Journal of Mechanics Engineering and Automation, 2013, 3, pp.405-13.
  • (http://www.davidpublishing.com/davidpublishing/Upfile/9/2/2013/2013090281987313.pdf)
  • Yonezu T, Kogure S, The effect of low-level lase irradiation on muscle tension and hardness compared among three wavelengths. Laser Ther, 2013, 22(3), pp.201-07.
  • Sato T, Hisamitsu T, Sato M, Takeshige C, Evaluation of the Acupunture Neediling Effect on Post-Execise Muscle Stiffness by Newly Devised Muscle Hardness Meter. Showa Univ, 1992, 4(2), pp.135-40.
  • (https://www.jstage.jst.go.jp/article/sujms1989/4/2/4_2_135/_article)
  • Kerins C M, Moore S D, Butterfield T A, McKeon P O, Uhl T L, Reliability of the myotonometer for assessment of posterior shoulder tightness. Int J Sports Phys Ther, 2013, 8(3), pp.248-55.
  • Kim S Y, Intra-Rater and Inter-Rater Reliability of the Myotonometer in the Assessment of Biceps Brachii and Quadriceps. Phys Ther Korea, 2007, 14(2), pp.29-36.
  • (http://db.koreascholar.com/article?code=6013)
  • Kim M, The Effect of Cock-up Splint on Upper Extremity Muscle Fatigue During Keyboard Typing. Hanseo University, 2007, Master’s Thesis.
  • (https://www.researchgate.net/publication/264181933_The_Effect_of_Cock-up_Splinting_on_Upper_Extremity_Muscle_Fatigue_During_Keyboard_Typing)
  • Kogo H, Kurosawa K, Seeking the Cause of Myofascial Pain Syndrome by Identifying which Manual Therapy is Effective against Muscle Tenderness and Stiffness. J Phys Ther Sci, 2010, 22(2), pp.173-76.
  • (https://www.jstage.jst.go.jp/article/jpts/22/2/22_2_173/_article)
  • Im H S, Chung K Y, Measurement of Skin Hardness with Durometer in Normal Korean Individuals. Korean J Dermatol, 2002, 40(1), pp.19-24.
  • (https://komci.org/GSResult.php?RID=0048KJD%2F2002.40.1.19&DT=6&ITEMNO=4&TITEM=30)
  • Domholdt E, Physical Therapy Research: Principles and applications. WB Saunders company, 2000.
  • Portney L G, Watkins M P, Foundations of Clinical Research: Applications to Practice. Upper Saddle River, NJ: Prentice Hall, 2000.
  • Fleiss J L, The Design and Analysis of Clinical Experiments. John Wiley & Sons, 2011.
  • Nunnally J C, Bemstein I H, Psychometric theory. McGraw-Hill Humanities, 1994.

Abstract Views: 264

PDF Views: 0




  • Intra-Rater Reliability of the Shore Durometer in the Assessment of Upper Trapezius Muscle Hardness

Abstract Views: 264  |  PDF Views: 0

Authors

Chung-Yoo Kim
Department of Physical Therapy, Catholic University of Pusan, 57, Oryundae-ro, Geumjeong-gu, Busan, Korea, Democratic People's Republic of
Jong-Ho Kang
Department of Physical Therapy, Catholic University of Pusan, 57, Oryundae-ro, Geumjeong-gu, Busan, Korea, Democratic People's Republic of
Tae-Sung Park
Department of Physical Therapy, Catholic University of Pusan, 57, Oryundae-ro, Geumjeong-gu, Busan, Korea, Democratic People's Republic of

Abstract


Background/ Objectives: This study aims to measure the reliability of the Shore durometer in assessing the hardness of the upper trapezius, providing the basis for muscle hardness measurement. Methods/Statistical analysis: The subjects of this study were 30 healthy adult males. After typing for 20 minutes, the subjects’ trapezius muscle hardness was measured while they were in a supine position. This process was repeated for six days. Their muscle hardness was measured three times per day, and the average value of the three measurements was used for analysis. To assess the reliability of the measured results, intra-class correlation coefficients were calculated. Findings: The result was that the intra-rater reliabilities of the left upper trapezius and of the right upper trapezius were 0.827 and 0.816, respectively. The Shore durometer has a high level of intra-rater reliability in measuring upper trapezius muscle hardness. Improvements/Applications: The Shore durometer can provide reproducible results of the upper trapezius muscle’s hardness when repetitively measured by the same measurer.


Keywords


Durometer, Hardness Tester, Intra-Rater Reliability, Shore C Durometer, Upper Trapezius.

References