Effect of Age and Body Size on the Wrist's Viscoelasticity in Healthy Participants From 3 to 90 Years Old and Reliability Assessment

Abstract

Excessive or insufficient levels of passive musculoarticular stiffness (PMAS) can lead to joint impairment or instability. Quantifying the PMAS may provide a better understanding of neurological or musculoskeletal disorders. The aims of the present study were multiple: first, to assess the reliability of quantifying PMAS and to collect normative data on the wrist in healthy participants, and second, to assess the effect of age and body size on PMAS. For this purpose, a total of 458 participants from 3 to 90 years old were analyzed with an electromechanical oscillation device (EOD). Passive sinusoidal movements were induced in a flexion/extension pattern in the participants' wrists, enabling an objective measurement of elastic stiffness (EL) and viscous stiffness (VI). Both the dominant and non-dominant wrists were assessed. Two-way repeated-measures ANOVA revealed a sex differentiation from puberty (12-18 years old) and an increase of EL and VI from childhood to adulthood and a decrease of stiffness at old age. EL and VI values were associated with body size characteristics and age. After body size normalization, EL was no longer influenced by the variables measured. On the other hand, VI remained moderately influenced by age and body size. The current study was able to provide normative data of PMAS in the wrist of healthy participants.

MyotonPro Is a Valid Device for Assessing Wrist Biomechanical Stiffness in Healthy Young Adults

“…Also, external factors could influence the passive stiffness, such as ambient or body temperature, blood flow, alcohol consumption, time of the assessment, or physical activities (Deun et al, 2017 ). A device such as the EOD can determine the ES and VS of the wrist joint but cannot differentiate the influence of the biological structures surrounding the wrist region (Nguyen et al, 2020 ).…”

“…Based on our results, the MyotonPro revealed itself to be a suitable device for performing in vivo measurements of myofascial tissue's viscoelastic properties. Unlike other, more accurate devices such as magnetic resonance elastography (Chakouch et al, 2014 ), ultrasound shear wave elastography (Gennisson et al, 2013 ) or an EOD (Detrembleur and Plaghki, 2000 ; Nguyen et al, 2020 ), the MyotonPro is by far more portable, affordable, and easy to use, even for a novice operator (Aird et al, 2012 ; Mullix et al, 2012 ; Agyapong-Badu et al, 2016 ). The stiffness measurement collected in passive conditions with the MyotonPro appears to be related to dynamic muscle performances (Pruyn et al, 2015 ) as well as passive elastic and viscous joint stiffness in the wrist.…”

“…Elastic stiffness is defined as the restoring force that acts like a spring mechanism and is directly proportional to the deformation of the structure and independent of the velocity of the deformation, as opposed to VS, which acts as a damper and which is correlated to the velocity of the deformation. EOD technology has been validated as a safe, reliable device for measuring passive viscoelastic stiffness in healthy subjects (Nguyen et al, 2020 ). The participants sat in front of the EOD, with their elbow flexed at about 120° and their forearm relaxed.…”

“…Also, external factors could influence the passive stiffness, such as ambient or body temperature, blood flow, alcohol consumption, time of the assessment, or physical activities (Deun et al, 2017). A device such as the EOD can determine the ES and VS of the wrist joint but cannot differentiate the influence of the biological structures surrounding the wrist region (Nguyen et al, 2020). Zonnino and Sergi (2019) demonstrated the influence of the fingers and thumb muscles in the passive stiffness of the wrist with a computational framework based on a musculoskeletal model in OpenSim.…”

“…The free oscillations technique is one of the valid methodologies used to quantify viscoelasticity in the extremities of the joints of limbs (Detrembleur and Plaghki, 2000 ; Nguyen et al, 2020 ). The electromechanical oscillation device (EOD) is a proven, reliable tool for assessing and quantifying the passive elastic and viscous stiffness of the ankle (Lobet et al, 2018 ) or wrist joint (Nguyen et al, 2020 ). Elastic and viscous stiffness represent respectively the spring-like and damper-like properties of tissues.…”