Oscillation Scenario

Investigation:
Investigation:
Investigation:

Figure 2: Resonance spectra and the response spectra for sinusoidal

oscillations [2]
Data Analysis and Interpretation:

A Myoton-3 (MYO) muscle tension, elasticity, and stiffness meter was used to measure muscle tension, elasticity,
and stiffness (𝑀𝑦𝑜𝑡𝑜𝑛, Tallinn, Estonia). The Myoton-3's method of operation is to elicit natural muscular
oscillations, which are the muscle's reaction to the dose stroke of the testing end, and to record the oscillation
graph. On the measuring point, the testing end is positioned on and perpendicular to the skin's surface. The device's
electromagnet generates a brief (15 milliseconds) force impulse (up to 0.4 N) through a switch, which is passed to
the contact area via the testing end. For a brief amount of time, the tissue under the probe is distorted by 2–3 mm.
The probe is rapidly removed once the current to the magnetic is withdrawn, and the muscle, along with the probe,
oscillates until the oscillations dampen and the muscle returns to its resting condition. The muscle properties can be
recorded using an acceleration-transducer on the testing end. A multi-scan mode with ten measurements in a row
was employed. Figure 1 depicts the graph of a typical oscillation. The acceleration graph exhibits a dampened
oscillation, with the initial peak, a0, being negative and the following peaks, a1–a4, being the first, second, third,
and fourth, respectively. F = 1/(t3 -t1) (Hz) is the oscillation frequency, where t3 and t1 are the time points when the
a3 and a1 occur, respectively. The frequency of oscillation describes the tension in a muscle. The faster the muscle
oscillates, the higher the tension. Table 1 shows the measurements of oscillation frequency, damping, stiffness and
compliance made at rest, 20, 40, 60, 80% MVC. MVC is the maximal voluntary contraction. This table can be used to
determine the natural frequency of the knee muscles. Figure 2 depicts another way to measure the experimental
natural frequency of muscles. Figure 2 represents a graph between power dissipated and frequency.
Conceptual Modeling:
Oscillation is the to and fro motion of an object about a mean position. This mean position is referred to as Set Point.
The oscillation considered in this scenario as indicated by the Figure 1 is Simple Harmonic Motion. The oscillatory
motion having certain properties is known as Simple harmonic motion (SHM). These properties are: The displacement
in the body (muscle in this scenario) is directly proportional to the restoring force. The restoring force is always directed
towards the mean position or set point. The acceleration is also directed towards the mean position. The velocity is
maximum at mean position and zero at extreme positions. The kinetic energy is maximum at mean position and zero at
extreme positions. The potential energy is maximum at extreme positions and zero at mean position. SHM is
characterized by a sinusoidal graph of displacement, velocity, acceleration, kinetic energy and potential energy. Since,
the graph in Figure 1 is sinusoidal, it is concluded that the oscillatory motion conducted by the knee muscles is SHM. .
The device's electromagnet generates a brief (15 milliseconds) force impulse (up to 0.4 N) through a switch, which is
passed to the contact area via the testing end. For a brief amount of time, the tissue under the probe is distorted by 2–3
mm. Thus, the cause of SHM in this scenario is an impulsive force of 0.4N. The natural frequency of muscles is
determined by the stiffness of muscles. Greater the stiffness of muscles, greater will be the natural frequency. There are
no resonance frequencies in this scenario since this is a scenario of free oscillations where only external force is initial
force of 0.4 N that is immediately removed after the muscles are set into oscillation. The concept of resonance
frequency is applicable where the oscillations are caused by repetitive force that is applied after certain time interval.
Thus, there is a frequency associated with this applied force. When the frequency of this force becomes equal to the
natural frequency of muscles, the displacement in the muscles is maximum, energy dissipation in the muscles is also
maximum. In that case, the frequency of the force that is being applied is known as the resonant frequency and this
phenomenon is known as resonance.
Conceptual Modeling:

The restoring mechanism in this scenario is the muscles’ own elasticity (stiffness)and the mass of the muscles serves as the
inertial component. It is a negative biological feedback loop because the amplitude of vibration of the muscles decreases
with time. This is known as Damping. The energy is dissipated as heat in this scenario that is why damping occurs. Thus, the
damping element is also provided by the mass of muscles. The set point here is the original position of the muscle before the
application of 0.4 N force. Resonance does not play any role in this scenario as discussed earlier.
Algebraic Modeling:
The instantaneous displacement x of the muscle from the mean position at any time t is described by the following
equation:
𝑥 = 𝐴𝑠𝑖𝑛(𝜔𝑡)
Where
𝐴 = 𝑚𝑎𝑥𝑖𝑚𝑢𝑚 𝑑𝑖𝑠𝑝𝑙𝑎𝑐𝑒𝑚𝑒𝑛𝑡 𝑜𝑟 𝑎𝑚𝑝𝑙𝑖𝑡𝑢𝑑𝑒
𝜔 = 𝑛𝑎𝑡𝑢𝑟𝑎𝑙 𝑓𝑟𝑒𝑞𝑢𝑒𝑛𝑐𝑦 𝑖𝑛 𝑟𝑎𝑑 𝑠 −1
The velocity v at any instant t is given by
𝑣 = 𝜔𝐴𝑐𝑜𝑠(𝜔𝑡)
And the acceleration is given by
𝑎 = −𝜔2 𝐴𝑠𝑖𝑛(𝜔𝑡)
The natural frequency is given by:
𝑘
𝜔=
𝑚
Where
𝑘 = 𝑠𝑡𝑖𝑓𝑓𝑛𝑒𝑠𝑠 𝑜𝑓 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑚𝑢𝑠𝑐𝑙𝑒𝑠
𝑚 = 𝑚𝑎𝑠𝑠 𝑜𝑓 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑚𝑢𝑠𝑐𝑙𝑒𝑠
The time period of oscillation is given by
𝑚
𝑇 = 2𝜋
𝑘
Algebraic Modeling:

The frequency of oscillation is given as:

1 𝑘
𝑓=
2𝜋 𝑚
Quantitative Analysis:
Figure 3 shows experimental data between power dissipated in muscles and the driving frequency for another
scenario:
The maximum power is dissipated when the frequency is about 10 Hz, thus the natural frequency is:
𝒇𝒏 = 𝟏𝟐 𝑯𝒛
In the Table 1, the frequency at rest describes the natural frequency that is about 15 Hz. The natural frequency of
muscles reported in literature is also around 15Hz [4]. Thus, the results are valid.
We have explained that
1 𝑘
𝑓=
2𝜋 𝑚
This means that if the stiffness of muscles is increased, the frequency also increases. Also,
𝑓∝ 𝑘
In table 1, when the frequency is 15.3 Hz, the stiffness is 𝟑𝟎𝟕 𝑵𝒎−𝟏 . When the frequency is 18.2 Hz at 20% MVC,
the stiffness is 423 Nm-1 .
From the relation between frequency and stiffness, we deduce that:
𝑓2 𝑘2
=
𝑓1 𝑘1
Putting values
18.2 𝑘2
=
15.3 307
𝒌𝟐 = 𝟒𝟑𝟒. 𝟒 𝑵𝒎−𝟏
References:

[1] https://www.researchgate.net/figure/Graphs-of-acceleration-a-during-oscillation-of-the-muscle-along-with-
the-testing-end_fig1_221682180

[2] https://www.researchgate.net/figure/Results-of-muscle-tone-parameters-at-different-submaximal-levels-of-
MVC_tbl1_221682180

[3] https://journals.physiology.org/doi/full/10.1152/japplphysiol.00142.2002

[4]
https://journals.physiology.org/doi/full/10.1152/japplphysiol.00142.2002#:~:text=Soft%20tissue%20vibrations%20
during%20walking%20and%20running.&text=This%20frequency%20range%20spans%20the,which%20were%20%E
2%88%BC15%20Hz.