Publications
Reliability of myotonometry in the assessment of cervico-mandibular musculature: Inter/intra-examiner and inter/intra-session reliability study
Authors: Armando Campos Lopez 1, Elena Estebanez-de-Miguel 2, Tania Camou Acedo 1, Karla Paola Garcia-Pelagio 3, Isabel Albarova-Corral 2, Miguel Malo Urries 2, Paulina Villanueva- Melendez 4
Affiliations:
- Academic Department, Orthopedic Manual Therapy Center, Hermosillo, Mexico
- Faculty of Heath Sciences, University of Zaragoza, Zaragoza, Spain
- Department of Physics, Faculty of Sciences, Universidad Nacional Autonoma de Mexico, Mexico City, Mexico
- Physical Therapy Clinic, Universidad Nacional Autonoma de Mexico, Leon, Mexico
Journal: The Journal of Craniomandibular & Sleep Practice - July 2025, Online First (DOI: 10.1080/08869634.2025.2528304)
-
Field & Applications:
- Medical
- Musculoskeletal disorder
- Temporomandibular disorder
- Orofacial muscles
- Reliability
Background: The MyotonPRO is a valid, portable device to assess musculoskeletal tissue properties, but its reliability for cervico-mandibular muscles remains unclear.
Objective: To evaluate the intra/inter-rater and intra/inter-session reliability of the MyotonPRO in cervico-mandibular muscle assessment.
Methods: A total of 30 measurements were performed on 15 healthy participants by two raters at two moments. MyotonPRO evaluated tone, stiffness, elasticity, relaxation time, and creep. Reliability was calculated using intraclass correlation coefficients (ICC), standard error of measurement, and minimal detectable change.
Results: Intra-rater intra-session reliability was good to excellent (ICC = 0.753–0.976). Inter-session values were moderate to good (ICC = 0.585–0.888), with excellent reliability for ECOM relaxation time (ICC = 0.955) and masseter elasticity (ICC = 0.910). Inter-rater reliability was moderate to good (ICC = 0.686–0.896).
Conclusion: The MyotonPRO is a reliable tool for assessing cervico-mandibular muscle mechanical properties across different raters and sessions.
Keywords: myotonometry, temporomandibular joint, cervical musculature, mandibular musculature
Our findings indicate that the MyotonPRO is a novel and accessible technique with good to excellent intra-examiner intra-session reliability, moderate to good intra-examiner inter-session reliability and moderaate to good inter-examiner reliability to measure mechanical properties of the cervico-mandibular musculature.