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Despite COVID-19 outbreak, the program of the 2022 Padua Days of Muscle and Mobility Medicine (PDM3) was confirmed On-site in February from March 30 to April 2, 2022 to be held at the University of Padua Aula Magna and at Conference Hall of the Hotel Petrarca of Thermae of Euganean Hills (Padua), Italy. Over 130 abstracts, including the last-minute submissions listed below, convinced organizers to extend the program to five days. The sponsorship of the University of Florida and the willingness of attendees to meet friends after two years of virtual conferences were the keys of success, despite concerns for current events in East Europe. Only fourteen Virtual presentations were in the final program, eight due to last-minute Coronavirus infections and six for East Europe problems. The first two days of the programincluded scientists and clinicians of the University of Florida, USA and their invitees from Canada, France, Italy, Swiden, Swiss, UK and USA. Researchers and clinicians from Austria, Belgium, France, Germany, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Russia, Slovakia, Slovenia, UK and USA filled the program of last three days more oriented to aging and rehabilitation. The large majority of abstracts was epublished before the meeting; here are last-minute abstracts and the final program. The program of the 2023 On-site PDM3 was informally designed during the Meeting, but will be circulated during 2022 summer. Fix the dates in your agenda from Thursday March 28 to Friday March 31. For now, please, submit Communications to the European Journal of Translational Myology, PAGEpress, Pavia, Italy and Original Articles or Reviews to the Journal Diagnostics, MDPI, Basel, Swiss. Both journals will host Special PDM3 Sections and will apply 50% discount on editorial processing fees to the first 15 accepted typescripts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The mechanotendography (MTG) is a method for analyzing the mechanical oscillations of tendons during muscular actions. The aim of this investigation was to evaluate the technical reliability of a piezo-based measurement system used for MTG. The reliability measurements were performed by using audio samples played by a subwoofer. The thereby generated pressure waves were recorded by a piezo-based measurement system. An audio of 40 Hz sine oscillations and four different formerly in vivo recorded MTG-signals were converted into audio files and were used as test signals. Five trials with each audio were performed and one audio was used for repetition trials on another day. The signals' correlation was estimated by Spearman (MCC) and intraclass correlation coefficients (ICC(3,1)), Cronbach's alpha (CA) and by mean distances (MD). All parameters were compared between repetition and randomized matched signals. The repetition trials show high correlations (MCC: 0.86 ± 0.13, ICC: 0.89 ± 0.12, CA: 0.98 ± 0.03), low MD (0.03 ± 0.03V) and differ significantly from the randomized matched signals (MCC: 0.15 ± 0.10, ICC: 0.17 ± 0.09, CA: 0.37 ± 0.16, MD: 0.19 ± 0.01V) (p = 0.001 - 0.043). This speaks for an excellent reliability of the measurement system. Presuming the skin above superficial tendons oscillates adequately, we estimate this tool as valid for the application in musculoskeletal system. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present study focuses on an innovative approach in measuring the mechanical oscillations of pre-loaded Achilles tendon by using Mechanotendography (MTG) during application of a short yet powerful mechanical pressure impact. This was applied on the forefoot from the plantar side in direction of dorsiflexion, while the subject stood on the ball of the forefoot on one leg. Participants with Achilles tendinopathy (AT; n = 10) were compared to healthy controls (Con; n = 10). Five trials were performed on each side of the body. For evaluation, two intervals after the impulse began (0-100ms; 30-100ms) were cut from the MTG and pressure raw signals. The intrapersonal variability between the five trials in both intervals were evaluated using the arithmetic mean and coefficient of variation of the mean correlation (Spearman rank correlation) and the normalized averaged mean distances, respectively. The AT-group showed a significantly reduced variability in MTG compared to the Con-group (from p = 0.006 to p = 0.028 for different parameters). The 95% confidence intervals (CI) of MTG results were disjoint, whereas the 95% CIs of the pressure signals were similar (p = 0.192 to p = 0.601). We suggest from this work that the variability of mechanical tendon oscillations could be an indicative parameter of an altered Achilles tendon functionality. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The objective of the study was to develop a better understanding of the capillary circulation in contracting muscles. Ten subjects were measured during a submaximal fatiguing isometric muscle action by use of the O2C spectrophotometer. In all measurements the capillary-venous oxygen saturation of hemoglobin (SvO2) decreased immediately after the start of loading and leveled off into a steady state. However, two different patterns (type I and type II) emerged. They differed in the extent of deoxygenation (-10.37 ±2.59 percent points (pp) vs. -33.86 ±17.35 pp, p = .008) and the behavior of the relative hemoglobin amount (rHb). Type I revealed a positive rank correlation of SvO2 and rHb (p = 0.735, p <.001), whereas a negative rank correlation (p = -0.522, p <.001) occurred in type II, since rHb decreased until a reversal point, then increased averagely 13% above the baseline value and leveled off into a steady state. The results reveal that a homeostasis of oxygen delivery and consumption during isometric muscle actions is possible. A rough distinction in two types of regulation is suggested. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The term Adaptive Force (AF) describes the capability of adaptation of the nerve-musclesystem to externally applied forces during isometric and eccentric muscle action. This ability plays an important role in real life motions as well as in sports. The focus of this paper is on the specific measurement method of this neuromuscular action, which can be seen as innovative. A measuring system based on the use of compressed air was constructed and evaluated for this neuromuscular function. It depends on the physical conditions of the subject, at which force level it deviates from the quasi isometric position and merges into eccentric muscle action. The device enables – in contrast to the isokinetic systems – a measure of strength without forced motion. Evaluation of the scientific quality criteria of the devices was done by measurements regarding the intra- and interrater-, the test-retest-reliability and fatiguing measurements. Comparisons of the pneumatic device with a dynamometer were also done. Looking at the mechanical evaluation, the results show a high level of consistency (r²=0.94 to 0.96). The parallel test reliability delivers a very high and significant correlation (ρ=0.976; p=0.000). Including the biological system, the concordance of three different raters is very high (p=0.001, Cronbachs alpha α=0.987). The test retest with 4 subjects over five weeks speaks for the reliability of the device in showing no statistically significant differences. These evaluations indicate that the scientific evaluation criteria are fulfilled. The specific feature of this system is that an isometric position can be maintained while the externally impacting force rises. Moreover, the device can capture concentric, static and eccentric strength values. Fields of application are performance diagnostics in sports and medicine.The term Adaptive Force (AF) describes the capability of adaptation of the nerve-musclesystem to externally applied forces during isometric and eccentric muscle action. This ability plays an important role in real life motions as well as in sports. The focus of this paper is on the specific measurement method of this neuromuscular action, which can be seen as innovative. A measuring system based on the use of compressed air was constructed and evaluated for this neuromuscular function. It depends on the physical conditions of the subject, at which force level it deviates from the quasi isometric position and merges into eccentric muscle action. The device enables – in contrast to the isokinetic systems – a measure of strength without forced motion. Evaluation of the scientific quality criteria of the devices was done by measurements regarding the intra- and interrater-, the test-retest-reliability and fatiguing measurements. Comparisons of the pneumatic device with a dynamometer were also done. Looking at the mechanical evaluation, the results show a high level of consistency (r²=0.94 to 0.96). The parallel test reliability delivers a very high and significant correlation (ρ=0.976; p=0.000). Including the biological system, the concordance of three different raters is very high (p=0.001, Cronbachs alpha α=0.987). The test retest with 4 subjects over five weeks speaks for the reliability of the device in showing no statistically significant differences. These evaluations indicate that the scientific evaluation criteria are fulfilled. The specific feature of this system is that an isometric position can be maintained while the externally impacting force rises. Moreover, the device can capture concentric, static and eccentric strength values. Fields of application are performance diagnostics in sports and medicine. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Muscles oscillate with a frequency around 10 Hz. But what happens with myofascial oscillations, if two neuromuscular systems interact? The purpose of this study was to examine this question, initially, on the basis of a case study. Oscillations of the triceps brachii muscles of two subjects were determined through mechanomyography (MMG) during isometric interaction. The MMG-signals were analyzed concerning the interaction of the two subjects with algorithms of nonlinear dynamics. In this case study it could be shown, that the muscles of both neuromuscular systems also oscillate with the known frequency (here 12 Hz) during interaction. Furthermore, both subjects were able to adapt their oscillations against each other. This adjustment induced a significant (α < .05) coherent behavior, which was characterized by a phase shifting of approximately 90°. The authors draw the conclusion, that the complementary neuromuscular partners potentially have the ability of mutual synchronization. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In real life motions, as well as in sports, the adaptation of the neuromuscular systems to externally applied forces plays an important role. The term Adaptive Force (AF) shall characterize the ability of the nerve-muscle-system to adapt to impacting external forces during isometric and eccentric muscle action. The focus in this paper is on the concept of this neuromuscular action, which is not yet described in this way. A measuring system was constructed and evaluated for this specific neuromuscular function, but only the main information of the evaluation of the measuring system and the preliminary reference values are mentioned here, while an article with detailed description will be published separately. This paper concentrates on the three following points: 1) What is the peculiarity of this neuromuscular function, introduced as AF? 2) Is the measuring system able to capture its specific characteristics and which phases of measurement occur? 3) It seems reasonable to discuss if AF can be distinguished and classified among the known force concepts. The article describes the measuring system and how it is able to capture special features of real life motions like submaximal intensities and the subjects' option to react adequately on external varying forces. Furthermore, within one measurement the system records three different force qualities: the isometric submaximal Adaptive Force (AFiso), the maximal isometric Adaptive Force (AFisomax) and the maximal eccentric Adaptive Force (AFeccmax). Each of these phases provide different and unique information on the nerve-muscle-system that are discussed in detail. Important, in terms of the Adaptive Force, seems to be the combination of conditional and coordinative abilities. This project was funded by the Federal Ministry of Economy and Technology (Project ZIM KF2262301FO9).