Table 4 Main characteristics of selected studies analyzing reliability of the myotonometry in the lower limbs.

Lo et al.³⁷

As previously reported for upper limbs

MyotonPRO:

Muscle tone at rest

MB: Rectus femoris, TA

Supine lying position, with hips neutral and full knee extension

Evaluation of affected side, A set of 3 impulses, with 1 s rest interval, 1 day between tests

Excellent reliability (ICC = 0.81) and bias towards overestimating rectus femoris tone on the 1st measurement

Muscle tone: SEM: 0.83 to 1.24; SRD: 2.52 to 3.08; 95% LOA: + 4.09 to -4.95

Lo et al.³⁸

As previously reported for upper limbs

MyotonPRO:

Muscle tone, stiffness, decrement and creep at rest

MB: Rectus femoris, TA

Supine lying position, with hips neutral and full knee extension

Bilateral evaluation, A set of 3 impulses with 1 s rest interval, 15 min between tests

Moderate to very high reliabilities (ICCs = 0.65–0.99) for affected and unaffected sides

Muscle tone: SEM: 2% to 4.92%; SRD: 4.68% to 11.47%; 95% LOA: + 3.85 to -3.19/ Muscle stiffness: SEM: 2.16% to 6.18%; SRD: 5.05% to 14.41%; 95% LOA: + 88.40 to -81.36/ Muscle decrement: SEM: 4.02% to 14.03%; SRD: 9.38% to 32.73%; 95% LOA: + 0.76 to -0.82/ Muscle creep: SEM: 3.05% to 5.67%; SRD: 7.13% to 13.23%; 95% LOA: + 0.38 to -0.39

Fröhlich-Zwahlen et al.⁴²

N = 19

19 chronic stroke patients

Mean age = 52, SD = 11

9 women

Mean time post stroke (y) = 1.9, SD = 0.7

MyotonPRO: Muscle tone, stiffness, and elasticity at rest

MB: Vastus lateralis, Rectus femoris, TA, Biceps femoris

GM

Medialis

Relaxed supine/ prone position

Evaluation of affected side, 10 single trials at each site, with 1 s rest interval, using an impulse force of 0.4 N with 15 ms duration, 7 days between tests

Moderate to high reliability (ICCs = 0.62–0.92) and low standard error measurements (-3.00 to 19.84)

Muscle tone: SEM: 6% to 8.4%; Muscle stiffness:

SEM: 5.1% to 9.2%; Muscle elasticity: SEM: 9.5% to 15.1%