A simple open-loop vibrating system for variable amplitude and frequency sinusoidal stretching of muscles.
A device designed to provide controlled variable amplitude and frequency sinusoidal stretching of muscles is described. The constructed vibrator included a pivoted lever with one arm fixed and the other variable, and was driven by an electric motor. The use of a powerful motor ensured that the stimulation parameters would not be significantly affected with tension changes in the muscle during contraction, which enables operating the system in an open-loop mode. This device is simple, low cost, and may be used in a variety of neurophysiologic studies with only conventional grounding, shielding, and noise suppression.
D000818:Animals; D002415:Cats; D004558:Electric Stimulation; D004576:Electromyography; D009132:Muscles / Q000502:physiology*; D010827:Physiology / Q000295:instrumentation*; D014732:Vibration