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Abstract

Considering that both in space and on earth, there is an intensive need of a complex method that can offer an objective characterization of the striated muscular tissue from the functional aspects to mechanical properties. At Institute of Space Science it was developed a device that may provide this solution. The device consists of a striker, used to apply a mechanical impulse to the muscle, up to 8 accelerometers on skin and 1 on the striker, one power supply and one data processing unit that is the data processor. The acceleration signal is recorded in the plane determined by the direction of the muscle fibre and the direction on which the mechanical excitation occurs, for both the percussion object and the 8 accelerometers placed along the fibre. At the present moment, the parameters identified that can be extracted from the raw data acquired with MusTone device are tone and muscle tension, biomechanical properties like elasticity, viscoelastic properties like the relaxation time after mechanical stress. In order to test the device applicability in different domains like space, sport performance or medical, it has to be verified in relevant environments in terms of consistency of the data. This testing campaign includes testing in Dry Immersion Facilities for space relevant conditions, testing in sport training on a group of performance athletes, testing medical suitability on patients with muscle atrophy. Considering the test already performed and the intentions in the near future, we believe that the device can possibly improve the results of training in many different domains and it has great applicability and versatility.