While targeting one muscle is a great place to start with basic isometrics and recruitment, dual channel monitoring can open up a world of possibilities. Whether using biofeedback to help identify areas of concern, show patients those issues and their progress towards resolving them in real time, or document progress, mTrigger can provide a wealth of information. This information can improve decision-making, performance, and ultimately outcomes. By improving awareness of activation in multiple muscles, mTrigger can provide nuanced, customized feedback that helps you and your patients get more out of every rep performed.
Read on for some awesome examples of dual channel applications!
ACTIVATION RATIO MONITORING
Compare activation levels of 2 target muscles simultaneously. Consider these configurations:
- Compensation
EXAMPLE: Hamstring compensating for the quad during knee extension
- Co-contraction
EXAMPLE: View activation of muscles that work together to perform a movement – like the brachioradialis and the biceps during elbow flexion, or the quads and hamstrings during knee extension – to identify imbalances and improve awareness of activation.
- Concentric/Eccentric
EXAMPLE: Encourage activation during multiple phases of movement by showing patients where they can increase activation to improve concentric or eccentric control
- Activation level awareness
EXAMPLE: Upper trap vs lower trap activation levels during rotator cuff exercises
- Isolations within a muscle group
EXAMPLE: Identify activation of the VMO compared to the rectus femoris during quad sets.
- Agonist/Antagonist
EXAMPLE: Display activation – during both rest and active movement – in the biceps and triceps during elbow extension to improve simultaneous activation and relaxation of antagonistic muscle pairs; of particular interest in spinal cord injury cases.
- Tonicity balancing
EXAMPLE: Monitor resting tone during stretching or manual therapy work to keep tonicity low, or encourage active inhibition during functional movements that recruit other muscle groups. Keep an eye on spinal erector tonicity to reduce back pain while encouraging activation and strengthening of the glutes.
BILATERAL ACTIVATION
- Symmetry Assessment – Isometric or Isotonic MVC
EXAMPLE: Neuromuscular Deficit Test identifies deficit in voluntary activation level of the involved target to its normal/healthy contralateral counterpart, which can be an excellent metric for documenting progress or approving return to sport
*Keep potential dominance effect in mind here
- Real-time side-to-side engagement
EXAMPLE: Use games in dual channel mode to monitor quads or glutes during an active sustained squat
The options with dual channel feedback are numerous and can provide a highly valuable level of nuance and customization to your rehab programs. Now that the ideas are flowing, get creative with your dual channel applications – and don’t forget to tag us on social so we can see what you’re up to! If you need a refresher on Single vs. Dual Channel Modes, check out our Settings training video HERE!
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