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Commentary

Authors' Reply to Valenzuela et al: Comment on: "Assessment of Skeletal Muscle Contractile Properties by Radial Displacement: The Case for Tensiomyography"

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Citation

Hunter A (2019) Authors' Reply to Valenzuela et al: Comment on: "Assessment of Skeletal Muscle Contractile Properties by Radial Displacement: The Case for Tensiomyography". Commentary on: Valenzuela PL, S¨¢nchez-Mart¨ªnez G, Torrontegi E, V¨¢zquez-Carri¨®n J, Montalvo Z, Lucia A. Comment on: ¡°Assessment of skeletal muscle contractile properties by radial displacement: the case for tensiomyography¡± (letter). Sports Med. 2018. https://doi.org/10.1007/s40279-018-0989-y.. Sports Medicine, 49 (6), pp. 977-978. https://doi.org/10.1007/s40279-018-0988-z

Abstract
First paragraph: We thank Valenzuela et al. [1] for their insightful commentary regarding our review and appreciate the interest shown in our article [2]. We certainly agree that predicting performance by measuring muscle contractile properties with tensiomyography (TMG) is an intriguing proposition. As underlined by Valenzuela et al. [1], the progressive evidence for TMG predicting the distribution of type I/II muscle fibres is convincing, culminating in the robust study by ?imuni? et al. [3], which we highlighted as the main source of construct validity assessment for TMG [2]. Furthermore, a recent study by ?imuni? et al. [4] revealed slower contraction time (Tc) among those masters athletes with a higher proportion of type I and/or IIa muscle fibres than type IIx. That said, we urge caution regarding interpretation of muscle belly radial displacement (Dm) as a direct indicator of muscle stiffness. To date, there remains limited research experimentally isolating intrinsic muscle stiffness when evaluating TMG as a measure of contractile mechanics. As such, when TMG has been used to assess muscle status, it has been difficult to differentiate between changes associated with excitation¨Ccontraction coupling or muscle stiffness, as in most situations both parameters may be affected. We [2] referred to the shortage of studies directly assessing changes in Dm associated with altering muscle stiffness via experimental intervention; however, since then, we ourselves have published a study demonstrating increased Dm following a self-massage treatment [5]. Still, we cannot say for sure that these observed changes were the result of decreased muscle stiffness.

Journal
Sports Medicine: Volume 49, Issue 6

StatusPublished
Publication date01/06/2019
Publication date online24/09/2018
Date accepted by journal24/09/2018
URL
ISSN0112-1642
eISSN1179-2035
Item discussedValenzuela PL, S¨¢nchez-Mart¨ªnez G, Torrontegi E, V¨¢zquez-Carri¨®n J, Montalvo Z, Lucia A. Comment on: ¡°Assessment of skeletal muscle contractile properties by radial displacement: the case for tensiomyography¡± (letter). Sports Med. 2018. https://doi.org/10.1007/s40279-018-0989-y.

People (1)

Professor Angus Hunter

Professor Angus Hunter

Honorary Professor, FHSS Management and Support