Title: The effect of yogic relaxation on muscle tone Objectives: The aim of this thesis is to present a technique of yogic relaxation, yoga nidra, as one of the possible methods for releasing mental and physical tension. The aim of the practical part of this thesis is to evaluate the effect of yoga nidra on muscle tone. Methods: The practical part of this thesis is a pilot study with six participants. For objective assessment of muscle tone the method of myotonometry was used. M. soleus was selected as the muscle to be measured. First, the original muscle tone of m. soleus on the dominant lower limb of the participants was measured. Then the group of participants was instructed about the practice of yoga nidra and was asked to practice it every day in the following 14 days at home using a given audio recording. After the two-week training, the muscle tone of m. soleus was measured again in order to determine the long-term effect of yoga nidra on muscle tone. Finally, the participants participated in a group lesson of yoga nidra guided by a yoga teacher. Then, the muscle tone of m. soleus was measured again in order to determine the instant effect of yoga nidra on muscle tone. Results: After the two-week training of yoga nidra the research found a decrease in muscle tone of m. soleus in 5 out of 6...

Title: Efficacy of post - isometric relaxation technique on muscle tissue and its viscoelastic properties after physical activity. Objective: This study is a pilot analytical and comparative study. The first aim of this thesis was evaluation of the effect of post-isometric relaxation technique on properties of muscle tissue after physical activity. The second aim of this thesis is to present a literature review regarding this topic using literature available. Methods: This study took place in the laboratory of kinesiology at UK FTVS. Six participants were measured prior to Wingate test, after Wingate test and after post- isometric relaxation or rest. Experimental lower extremity was applied post-isometric relaxation technique and the control lower extremity was not. Muscle tonus of the soleus muscle was measured with myotonometric device developed by Šifta. The final data were processed in the special software in Matlab and the obtained hysteresis curves were used for results analysis. Results: This study had three hypotheses and none of them was confirmed during the measuremets. The first hypothesis pressumed that muscle tonus will increase after the Wingate test, but it was not confirmed and thus further measurements were strongly influenced in the sense that post-isometric relaxation was not...

Title: The influence of skating frequency on muscle tone of musculus triceps surae. Objective: The aim of this master degree thesis is to determine whether and how much influence the frequency and intensity of isotonic load the muscle tone of musculus soleus during skating of a professional ice hockey player. The muscle tone of musculus soleus is the most objectively measured part of musculus triceps surae by myotonometer. Methods: The master degree thesis is divided into the theoretical part, the processed form of research that serves as a basis for investigation in the second, empirical part. Change in muscle tone of musculus soleus was investigated by using myotonometer, which followed after a full physiotherapy examination. It is quantitative research using quasi-experimental study. Measurements were performed on 10 subjects - professional ice hockey players who are fully manage the technique of skating on the ice, before load, after low frequency isotonic load and after high frequency isotonic load. Conclusion: The myotonometric measurements revealed that after low and high frequency isotonic load of skating on ice rink, the muscle tone of musculus soleus is the same or slightly lower than before load. Keywords: Muscle tone, myotonometer, musculus soleus, skating, ice hockey

Title: The influence of skating frequency on muscle tone of musculus triceps surae. Objective: The aim of this master degree thesis is to determine whether and how much influence the frequency and intensity of isotonic load the muscle tone of musculus soleus during skating of a professional ice hockey player. The muscle tone of musculus soleus is the most objectively measured part of musculus triceps surae by myotonometer. Summary: The master degree thesis is divided into the theoretical part, the processed form of research that serves as a basis for investigation in the second, empirical part. Change in muscle tone of musculus soleus will be investigated by using myotonometer, which will follow after a full physiotherapy examination. Measurements will be performed on 10 subjects - professional ice hockey players who are fully manage the technique of skating on the ice, before load, after low frequency isotonic load and after high frequency isotonic load. Conclusion: The myotonometric measurements revealed that after low and high frequency isotonic load of skating on ice rink, the muscle tone of musculus soleus is the same or slightly lower than before load. Keywords: Muscle tone, myotonometer, musculus soleus, skating, ice hockey

Tyrimo objektas – asmenų su nugaros smegenų pažeidimais kojų raumenų spastiškumas. Tyrimo aktualumas: asmenų, patyrusių nugaros smegenų pažeidimą, spastiškumas (raumenų tonusas) dažniausiai tyrinėjamas esant kokiai nors ligai (pvz. patyrus insultą, esant cerebriniui paralyžiui ir t.t.) ir tikrinamas taikytos reabilitacinės programos efektyvumas, t.y., tyrėjai nustato ar įtakojo raumenų spastiškumą jų taikyta reabilitacinė programa ar ne. Labai skirtingi tyrimų rezultatai tyrinėjant raumenų spastiškumą po nugaros smegenų pažeidimų. Dėl skirtingų autorių (Woolacott & Berne, 2006; Hsieh et al, 2008, Gorassini et al, 2008; Elovic, 2001; Adams & Hicks, 2005) tyrimų rezultatų nėra aišku, kokia įtaką turi raumenų spastiškumui nugaros smegenų pažeidimo aukštis, trukmė po pažeidimo, pažeidimo gylis, sportavimas. Tyrimo tikslas – nustatyti ir įvertinti asmenų, patyrusių nugaros smegenų pažeidimą, parezinių ar pleginių kojų raumenų spastiškumą. Uždaviniai : 1. Nustatyti ir įvertinti, asmenų su nugaros smegenų pažeidimais, parezinių ar pleginių kojų raumenų spastiškumą pagal pažeidimo aukštį; 2. Nustatyti ir įvertinti, asmenų su nugaros smegenų pažeidimais, parezinių ar pleginių kojų raumenų spastiškumą pagal pažeidimo gylį; 3. Nustatyti ir įvertinti, asmenų su nugaros smegenų pažeidimais, parezinių ar pleginių kojų raumenų spastiškumą pagal pažeidimo trukmę; 4. Nustatyti ir įvertinti, sportuojančių ir nesportuojančių asmenų su nugaros smegenų pažeidimais, parezinių ar pleginių kojų... [toliau žr. visą tekstą] / The object of research – individuals with spinal cord injuries, leg muscle spasticity. The relevance of research: individuals with spinal cord injury, spasticity (muscle tone) is usually studied in any disease (eg. after a stroke, with cerebral palsy, etc.) and checked applied rehabilitation program effectiveness, i.e. the investigators determined or influenced by muscle spasticity in their applied rehabilitation program or not. Studying muscle spasticity after spinal cord injury had very different results. Evaluation of the results of the various authors (Woolacott & Berne, 2006, Hsieh et al, 2008, Gorassini et al, 2008; Elovic, 2001, Adams & Hicks, 2005) is not clear how influence height of spinal cord injury, duration and depth of the infringement, sport to muscle spasticity. The study objective - to identify and assess spasticity of paresis or plegian leg muscle of the individuals who suffered spinal cord injury. Objectives: 1. To identify and assess spasticity of paresis or plegian leg muscle of individuals with spinal cord injuries according to the height of the infringement; 2. To identify and assess spasticity of paresis or plegian leg muscle of individuals with spinal cord injuries of the infringement on the depth; 3. To identify and assess spasticity of paresis or plegian leg muscle of individuals with spinal cord injuries according to the duration of the infringement; 4. To identify and evaluate spasticity of paresis or plegian leg muscle of individuals with... [to full text]

Title: The effect of intensity of voluntary isometric contraction on rheological characteristics of skeletal muscle tissue in vivo, in situ Objectives: The main aim of this study is to determine the effect of intensity of isometric voluntary contraction of skeletal muscle on its viscoelastic characteristics. The work also aims to contribute to the verification of myotonometer as an objective diagnostic instrument and compares it to known methods for evaluation of muscle tone, or its partial characteristics. Methods: We used myotonometer - utility model 29456 for evaluation of changes of stiffness and viscous behavior of skeletal muscle in vivo, in situ in 20 healthy volunteers. The values were compared during 0%, 20%, 35% and 50% of maximal strength of isometric contraction of finger flexors, controlled by hand-held dynamometer. Results: We concluded that both stiffness and viscous behavior of skeletal muscle increases with higher intensity of isometric voluntary contraction. Keywords: myotonometer, skeletal muscle, viscous behavior, stiffness, muscle tone

POSSIBILITIES OF THE USE OF INDENTATION TESTS WHILE STUDYING THE MECHANICAL PROPERTIES OF SOFT TISSUES OF THE HUMAN LOCOMOTOR SYSTEM IN VIVO, IN SITU ABSTRACT: The aim of this work was to analyze possibilities of the use of indentation tests, while studying mechanical properties of human locomotor system soft tissues in vivo, in situ. The synthesis of published findings and the results of our own surveys were used. A mathematical model of the indentation test was created as a part of theory. The geometry of the task was formulated as a solid cylinder penetrating into an infinite half-space made of viscoelastic material. The solution is based on the traditional analytical approach concerning stationary loading of flexible material. This procedure is generalized for Neo-Hooke's hyperelastic material and large deformations. The quantification of dissipative processes is based on the assumption that the stress tensor of a viscoelastic material can be decomposed into a purely elastic constituent and a purely dissipative constituent. The model enables to determine both elastic and viscous properties of the material. Experimental part of the work includes validation experiments. Based on the findings, it can be stated that myotonometry is a valid diagnostic method that allows an objective assessment of muscle tone...

Title The objectification of using of kinesio taping to influence a muscle tone in epicondylitis. Objectives The aim of this master thesis is to find an effect of inhibitive kinesiotape application to muscle tone of hypertonic m. extensor digitorum communis and to pain of lateral epicondyl in lateral epicondylitis. Method The master thesis is divided to theoretical part and empirical research, which is based on the first part. The evaluation of m. extensor digitorum communis tension after kinesiotape application is provided by myotonometry method. The measurement is performed in 5 tested persons before and after two-day kinesio tape application. The questionaire Numeric pain rating scale helps to find a change of pain before and after kinesio tape application and then the dependence of pain to muscle tone change. Results The myotonometer measurement found a decrease of m. extensor digitorum communis tension for 4 from 5 tested persons after two-day application. The pain of lateral epicondyl was reduced for all probands. Keywords lateral epicondylitis, tennis elbow, muscle tone, kinesio taping, myotonometer

Title: The influence of bicycle saddle position on muscle tone of the triceps surae muscle Objectives: The aim of this thesis is to find out what is the effect of changing the bicycle saddle position on muscle tone of triceps surae muscle. And whether the higher seat position will also increase muscle tone of the calf muscle. Methods: The thesis is divided into the theoretical part, where there is the information from the scientific literature on the subject and a practical part. The theoretical part includes anatomical descriptions and rheological properties of skeletal muscles, muscle tension and its regulation. Part of it is also the biomechanics of cycling, bike geometry and the options of bicycle seat setting and also the risk implications of the incorrect bicycle seat position. The practical part was prepared as a research by measuring of muscle tone by the myotonometer. For measurement was used the triceps surae muscle of the seven probands on the dominant lower limb. The measurement were twice two weeks apart with the different bicycle seat height. Results: The measurement results confirmed that change of bicycle saddle position has an influence on the muscle tone and that the higher saddle position will also increase muscle tone of the calf muscle. Keywords: bicycle saddle position, saddle...