What is it about?
This study examined how the Achilles tendon vibrates as muscle force increases. Sixty-two adults performed ankle plantar flexion at five effort levels (0–100%) while wearing a skin-surface sensor. We measured micro-vibrations of the tendon (called mechanotendography, MTG) and found that MTG intensity increases proportionally with muscle force. Using statistical models, we also found differences in the increase pattern between men and women, which may reflect underlying differences in muscle composition.
Featured Image
Photo by Kyle Kranz on Unsplash
Why is it important?
This study is the first to statistically demonstrate that tendon vibration intensity rises with increasing muscle effort. Moreover, the sex-specific differences in the vibration patterns correspond to known differences in muscle fiber type composition: females tend to recruit more slow-twitch fibers early, while males have a greater reserve of fast-twitch fibers. These findings suggest that MTG could serve as a non-invasive indicator of muscle recruitment strategies and fiber composition, offering new insights for aging research and personalized rehabilitation.
Perspectives
Conventional methods like EMG or MMG face limitations in long-term use. MTG, measured via a thin wearable sensor over the tendon, enables non-invasive tracking of deep muscle behavior. By applying structural equation modeling, we found that sex-based physiological characteristics may be reflected in tendon signals. This approach may open new paths in biomechanics, allowing researchers and clinicians to assess individual differences in neuromuscular control through surface-based sensing.
Tatsuhiko Matsumoto
Murata Seisakusho Kabushiki Kaisha
Read the Original
This page is a summary of: Increase trajectories of tendon micro vibration intensity during ankle plantar flexion: A longitudinal data analysis using latent curve models, PLOS One, July 2025, PLOS,
DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0312790.
You can read the full text:
Contributors
The following have contributed to this page
