MUSCLE - LAB™
The Muscle-Lab™ is a specially designed data collection unit which is connected to a PC via the RS232 serial line. A number of sensor can be connected for data recording. All data are stored in the database for easy and powerful analysis. You can create a wide variety of graphs, and make printouts of the results.
Data may also be exported to ASCII format and thus be imported to other programs, e.g. Excel, SPSS etc. The Muscle-Lab™ is manufactured in accordance with the ISO-9000 quality standards and complies with the IEC medical directives for safety.
By using various type of sensors you can evaluate:
-
Distance and velocity (e.g. load movement during strength training)
-
Force (Isometric or dynamic force)
-
Acceleration
-
Electromyography (EMG)
-
Time intervals (using infrared contact mat and/or photocells)
-
Joint angles and angular velocity
-
Balance (using force platform)
STRENGTH AND POWER
- Evaluate force power and velocity in strength training
Strength is more than maximal force. In fact, most sport activities requires power - or to put it simple: move a sub-maximal load as fast as possible. With Muscle-Lab™ that is exactly the properties we are measuring. Only one sensor, recording the load displacement in function of time, is used to collect the information needed for the below tests. The rest is taken care of by the software. This sensor can be connected to virtually any exercise situation where gravitational load is used as resistance.
JUMPING
- The following jumping tests (Bosco's protocol) are build into Muscle-Lab™ :
1. Squat Jump (SJ)
2. Counter Movement Jump (CMJ)
3. Drop Jump (DJ)
4. Rebound Jump (RJ) (series of jumps)
5. Load Jump(LJ) (Jump with extra load)
The jump height is either calculated from the flight time (using infrared light mat) or through integration of the ground reaction force using force platform (SJ and CMJ only).
RUNNING
- Use photocells to record running speed
You may connect photo-cells to Muscle-Lab™ for recording of time intervals. Choose between several start methods and setups. Optionally you may combine photocells with the infrared contact mat and measure contact and flight time in addition to running velocity. This allows calculation of stride length, stride frequency etc. These parameters are compared to data from a biomechanical model, and thus provides information to help improvement of running economy.
REHABILITATION
- The Muscle-Lab™ is ideal for documentation of progress during the rehabilitation program
Example:
Dynamic test
Unlike iso-kinetic test systems, Muscle-Lab™ allows evaluation of the stretch-shortening cycle
Isometric test
Sometimes isometric test is the most appropriate. Of course, with Muscle-Lab™ you have the choice !
| 
