The Thermal Effects Of Pulsed Shortwave Diathermy On Muscle Force Production, Electromyography, And Mechanomyography

Context: Therapeutic heat is often used to increase tissue compliance in order to obtain increases in range of motion with stretching. Objective: The purpose was to examine the thermal effects of pulsed shortwave diathermy (PSWD) on maximum voluntary contraction (MVC) muscle force, and electromyography (EMG) and mechanomyography (MMG) during ramped isometric contractions. Study may provide insight on how therapeutic heat affects the neuromuscular properties of the muscle. Conclusions: The increase in MMG amplitude suggests that muscle compliance may have increased with PSWD. The unaltered MVC torque production and responses for EMG and MMG IMF suggest that PSWD does not adversely affect neuromuscular function, indicating that force production and motor control strategies remain unaffected.