RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN MECHANOMYOGRAM SIGNALS AND CHANGES IN FORCE OF HUMAN FOREFINGER FLEXOR MUSCLES DURING VOLUNTARY CONTRACTION

In previous studies on mechanomyogram (MMG) signals no analysis of the se signals accompanying force generation has been performed. Therefore , we have recorded MMG signals (previously referred to as muscle sound or acoustomyographic signals) during voluntary contractions of forefi nger flexor muscles in 31 young subjects. These subjects made contract ions to produce force records of triangular or trapeziform shape. The peak target force amounted to 10, 20 or 40 N which represented less th an 40% of maximal voluntary contraction. The MMG signals during the tr ansient phases of force generation at three different rates were analy sed. The MMG intensity level calculated for MMG records and the peak-t o-peak amplitude of MMG signals correlated with both the velocity of f orce increase and the contraction force. The occurrence of the stronge st MMG signals corresponded to changes in contractile force. Therefore , it is suggested that measurements of these parameters could be a use ful tool in studies of changes in contractile force.