E. Gallasch et T. Kenner, CHARACTERIZATION OF ARM MICROVIBRATION RECORDED ON AN ACCELEROMETER, European journal of applied physiology and occupational physiology, 75(3), 1997, pp. 226-232
Microvibration (MV) of the freely hanging and firmly supported lower a
rm was studied (n = 8) using two accelerometers, one located over musc
le tissue (brachioradialis muscle) and one over bony tissue (processus
styloideus). Measurements were made in the completely relaxed arm (RE
ST), during arterial occlusion (CUFF) and during mild handgrip (GRIP),
first with the arm relaxed and hanging beside the chair and then repe
ated with the arm supported in a special rest. At REST, ballistocardia
c forces were identified as the driving mechanism for the regular MV p
attern, whereas actions of local pulse waves (CUFF) could be excluded.
During GRIP irregular MV, related to the contraction process, became
superimposed on both signals. The MV at REST was sensitive to arm posi
tion. In the freely hanging state, when the arm was family coupled to
the trunk, ballistocardiac body motion was present over bony tissue, p
roducing a low damped 7-13 Hz resonant response over muscle tissue. In
the supported state, the arm became isolated from body motions. Never
theless, ballistocardiac forces reached the arm, producing smaller osc
illatory responses over bone and muscle tissue. Regionally produced MV
(GRIP) was not sensitive to arm position, but the spectrum content in
the 7-13 Hz region was very similar to REST. From these results it wo
uld appear, that a low damped 7-13 Hz resonance process exists in rela
xed muscle tissue? which physiologically becomes stimulated by cardiac
and muscle forces. From the close relationship of the simultaneous MV
waveforms in the supported arm, evidence for mechanical coupling betw
een bone and muscle tissue is given.