Home Publications Research Grants Inventions & Patents Awards Additional Research Activities Faculties & Institutions Research Areas

The princess and the pea - Comparison of different stiffness assessment tools on a multi-layered phantom tissue model

Bartsch K, Brandl A, Pouletaut P, CHAKOUCH M, Weber P, Bensamoun S, Schleip R (2023)

---

Publication Type: Journal article

Publication year: 2023

Journal

Book Volume: 33

Pages Range: e16-e17

DOI: 10.1016/j.jbmt.2022.12.020

Abstract

Introduction/Background Changes in the mechanical properties (i.e. tissue stiffness) of soft tissues have been linked to musculoskeletal disorders, leading to a rising demand in suitable diagnostic methods. However, little data exists to provide evidencebased recommendations for current stiffness assessment tools (SAT), requiring further research investigating their measurement properties [1]. The study aimed to compare different SAT’ reliability and validity on a multi-layered phantom tissue model (MPTM). Methods A polyurethane MPTM was used to provide findings on concurrent validity. The MPTM simulated the four layers of the thoracolumbar fascia: cutis (CUT), subcutaneous connective tissue (SCT), fascia profunda (FPR), and erector spinae (ERS). To mimic stiffness alterations, 10 phantoms with varying stiffness parameters (specified in Shore OOO) were produced for each tissue layer. Evaluated assessment technologies included indentometry (Durometer, Tissue Compliance Meter, IndentoPro) [2], myotonometry (Myoton Pro®) [3], ultrasound imaging (ultrasound with attached transducer) [4], ultrasound elastography and magnetic resonance elastography [5]. The artificial relative stiffness changes in the MPTM were measured blindly by two different examiners, and the concurrent validity of the SAT was established using correlation coefficients and linear regression analysis. Between the two examiners, the inter-rater reliability of the assessment tools was determined. It can be noted that both elastography techniques were not able to measure stiffness and the polyurethane MPTM should be further developed. Results A total of 1840 measurements was conducted. Except for elastrography, all SAT found significant correlations for stiffness changes in all layers of the MPTM aside from the FPR layer, ranging from 0.70 to 0.98 (all p < 0.01). The interrater reliability ranged from good to excellent for these methods (ICC(2,2) = 0.75~0.98). Measurement by elastography was not reliably feasible with MPTM. Conclusion Indentometry and myotonometry technologies detected stiffness changes in three of the four MPTM layers (Table 1). With ultrasound imaging, only layers thicker than 3 mm could be measured. No method could detect stiffness changes in the thin (1 mm) layer simulating FPR.

Authors with CRIS profile

Involved external institutions

How to cite

APA:

Bartsch, K., Brandl, A., Pouletaut, P., CHAKOUCH, M., Weber, P., Bensamoun, S., & Schleip, R. (2023). The princess and the pea - Comparison of different stiffness assessment tools on a multi-layered phantom tissue model. Journal of Bodywork and Movement Therapies, 33, e16-e17. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jbmt.2022.12.020

MLA:

Bartsch, Katja, et al. "The princess and the pea - Comparison of different stiffness assessment tools on a multi-layered phantom tissue model." Journal of Bodywork and Movement Therapies 33 (2023): e16-e17.

BibTeX: Download