Publications

Myoton Clarification Note: A Guide to Interpreting the Inverse Relationship Between Logarithmic Decrement and Tissue Elasticity

This study examined the immediate effects of vibration (VFR) and non-vibration foam rolling (FR) on the biomechanical and viscoelastic properties of the knee flexor and extensor muscles.

Thirteen young male recreational athletes (mean age: 21.46±1.45 years) completed three conditions: VFR, FR, and control conditions. Assessments were performed pre- and post-test using the MyotonPRO.

Regarding the knee flexors, no significant effects were observed for muscle tone, stiffness, elasticity, or relaxation time (p>0.05). Creep increased similarly in both VFR and FR groups (p=0.038). Regarding knee extensors, neither intervention affected muscle tone, elasticity, or relaxation time (p>0.05). Stiffness decreased in both groups, with VFR demonstrating greater efficacy compared to FR (p=0.002). Creep increased similarly in both the VFR and FR groups (p=0.016).

Both interventions effectively enhanced the creep of knee flexor and extensor muscles and reduced knee extensor muscle stiffness, whereas VFR demonstrated a superior acute benefit in reducing extensor muscle stiffness.

Keywords: athletes, hamstring muscles, myofascial release, quadriceps muscle

In summary, the present study suggests that both VFR and FR interventions may influence the viscoelastic properties of the lower limb by increasing creep values while leaving mechanical relaxation time unaffected. Our findings indicate that this increase in creep, an indicator of time-dependent tissue deformation, may emerge as a universal trend across both knee flexor and extensor muscles, regardless of the vibration stimulus. In contrast, the effects on biomechanical properties appear to be muscle-group specific; a reduction in stiffness was observed only in the knee extensors, suggesting that VFR might offer a more pronounced physiological advantage over traditional FR in this particular muscle group.

Notably, neither intervention appeared to induce significant changes in muscle tone, elasticity, and relaxation time. This suggests that foam rolling might primarily influence the viscous component (creep) through a thixotropic effect, rather than directly altering the neural drive or intrinsic elastic characteristics of the myofascial unit. From a practical perspective, VFR application could be prioritized for the anterior chain to enhance mechanical compliance and reduce stiffness. For the posterior chain, traditional FR may be sufficient to affect viscoelastic creep, as the addition of vibration does not appear to provide incremental benefits for hamstring stiffness. Overall, as these modalities can enhance (tissue deformation capacity) without the risk of performance-diminishing “de-toning”, they can be considered safe and effective options for pre-activity use.