Projects / Programmes
Definition of non-invasive method for quantification of skeletal muscle atrophy: from validation to application
| Code |
Science |
Field |
Subfield |
| 5.10.03 |
Social sciences |
Sport |
Kinesiology - biomechanical, biometrical aspect |
| Code |
Science |
Field |
| B580 |
Biomedical sciences |
Skeleton, muscle system, rheumatology locomotion |
| Code |
Science |
Field |
| 3.03 |
Medical and Health Sciences |
Health sciences |
Skeletal muscle, atrophy, hypertrophy, electromyography, tensiomyography
Researchers (21)
Organisations (3)
Abstract
Modern analysis of human working and living environment and of the most common causes of injuries and illnesses report 25% of incidence of muscle pain. In 49% the damage of musculoskeletal system causes the absence from work and as many as 60% causes sustained injuries. In the growing physical inactivity rate maintaining muscle mass is crucial to human health.
Muscle atrophy is a well known phenomenon that defines the loss of muscle volume, as a result of illness or injury, unbalanced diet or lack of physical activity. Despite a number of researches exploring the findings of muscle atrophy and analyzing its implications, there are still many unresolved issues, especially in terms of objective indicators, methods and procedures of assessment. Today's procedures are complex, less sensitive, especially outside clinical cases, when it is important to detect even the slightest changes.
In 1978, the relationship between the mechanical force response and neuromuscular electrical activity was proposed as an objective assessment method and as a measure of electromechanical efficiency. Due to the low sensitivity this method had very limited practical use. The essential shift took place in 1990 when the lateral vibrations of muscle fibers, instead of force, in the same ratio were studied and thus more appropriate assessment procedure for monitoring muscular atrophy was developed. Soon, the researchers again encountered barriers. Too low sensitivity and repeatability limited the use of the method only to severe clinical cases and chronic diseases. The idea of a non-invasive marker for assessing muscular atrophy has remained unstudied and abandoned to this day.
In 1997 the Slovenian scientific space contributed significantly to this goal. The difficulties of assessment procedures and sensors measuring transversal mechanical muscle belly deformations (accelerometer, microphone, laser beam) were overcome by the proposed displacement sensor. The sensor presses the muscle belly through controlled contact and thus increases geometrical difference between relaxed and contracted muscle. This results in non-invasive and selective method, which is characterized by high sensitivity and repeatability. The method of monitoring the radial muscle belly movement has been validated, tested and patented.
At the same time the method for detection of the surface neuromuscular electrical activity was upgraded and since 2004 it has allowed 2D monitoring of skeletal muscle on its whole surface and depth. In Slovenia patented method for decomposition of motor unit action potentials enables decomposition of the surface electromyogram and with it identification of the active motor units, recruitment assessment, muscle fatigue, etc.
The main objective of the proposed project is to define and develop non-invasive procedure for assessing skeletal muscle atrophy and hypertrophy and to improve the current assessment procedures of muscular adaptation. Based on the mechanical response thickening, movement, vibration of muscle fibers as well as neuromuscular electrical activity, we will define the appropriate marker. Indirect objectives are aimed at modelling temporal dynamics of muscle adaptation on physical inactivity, aging, exercise, and rehabilitation after knee/hip artheroplasty. By developing the provided marker of muscle adaptation we will add a new service - test.
The project will be conducted in accordance with the rules of carrying out experiments on human; with the permission granted by ethics commission, consents of the participants and in accordance with the rules of the Declaration of Helsinki. Upon successful completion of the project we anticipate a patents application, publication of several scientific articles, two PhD theses, and the creation of appropriate education program.
Significance for science
Researchers of the Institute for Kinesiology Research at the ZRS Koper, the applicant of the project, have been for many years involved in researches in the areas of space physiology, where they have been studying the effects of micro-gravity on humans. An important part of research was focused on the exercise physiology and environmental physiology, on the study of motor performance and working ability in interaction of man and the environment. Basic challenge of the applicant was in introducing new method in the field of skeletal muscle assessment. Research was based in previous slovenian method - named Tensiomyography, that was firstly mentioned in 1991 and first SCI publication arose in 1997. Up to date there was exactly 70 SCI publications published using TMG, only in last year 17 of them. That proofs the acceptance of TMG in wider scientific field for detecions of skeletal muscle contractile properties. During this project we further upgraded TMG to assure more accurate detection for higher quality of interpretation of assessed parameters of muscle contraction. Method will have also wider area of its use. In next years we expect further breakthrough in the field of epidemiology of aging, more accurately sarcopenia. Breakthrough will be also in the field of sensitive and accurate assessment of early preathrophic processess, that are very clinically important in the field of older adults, as anatomical atrophy is often irreversible. Furthermore, we expect breakthrough also in the fields of sport exercise and rehabilitation, as we already publiched first studies of sport exercise effects on athlete's performance. In 2015 we accrediated FIFA medical centre of excellence for systematic scientific and professional work in football. Important aspect is also in transdisciplinar transfer of knowledge using this method. That is evident in our publications that are most often published in medical or physiotherapy journals. That fact is very impoprtant for the promotion of the kinesiology and sport in clinical settings and medical diagnostics.
Significance for the country
Knowledge and technology transfer from research and educational institutions to the economy and to other users of knowledge is one important orientation of modern single European area. Poor health conditions of modern man encourage the need to promote integration and transfer of knowledge and technologies to health and medicine. EU guidelines (European calls HORIZON) encourage economy and research institutions to transfer knowledge to the areas of environmental sustainability and to human. The applicant of the project, ZRS Koper, Institute for Kinesiology Research, started the cooperation with economy upon its establishment and regularly participates in different projects. In the project we upgraded the diagnostic-research method of Slovenina origin. We studied the mechanisms of TMG assessed contractile parameters. These assured higher quality and validity of results interpretation. As every scientific method, also TMG needed after several time of existence this kind of basic and applied research, that will place the grounds for better work of its users: physicians, therapeuts, kinesiologists, sport trainiers. Additional proof is the basic research performed by Simunic et al. (2011) who explained one TMG derived parameter and the SCI publication arose from 1-4 annualy before 2011 to 6-17 annualy. Company TMG-BMC also began an educational programmes for TMG intersted audience, with already more than 40 completed, for three different levels of education. The applicant annually performs different social promotion activities in the field of kinesiology for the quality of life. The institute regularly carries out promotional measurements of sports clubs, sports departments of secondary schools, top and recreation sportsmen, etc. We believe that the direct use and the application of the knowledge into practice will contribute to the awareness of a broad mass of people of the importance of a harmonious movement, of the possible consequences of inadequate muscle adaptations and problems resulting from them. We will also contribute new knowledge to the education of relevant experts, who will be directly involved with the users (physiotherapists, coaches). It is certain that a newly educated staff from the study program Applied Kinesiology will certainly use the measurement equipment and integrate it in other fields of kinesiology, health and ergonomy. Promotion of Slovenia was achieved also with our long-term collaboration with FC Barcelona that recognises our technological solutions in 2015 by mention the method in their publication Muscle Injuies Clinical Guide. Afterwards we obtained an internationally accredited FIFA medical centre of excellence.
Most important scientific results
Annual report
2013,
2014,
2015,
final report
Most important socioeconomically and culturally relevant results
Annual report
2013,
2014,
2015,
final report
