Reading myograph data

While the force transducer is collecting the force from the sample, the software plots a graph on the computer that represents the contraction/relaxation over time, drawing a line with some similarities to a sinus wave where the peaks are the contractions and the valleys the relaxation (Figure 1). Force, in grams, is stated on the Y-axis, while time, in seconds, is on the X-axis. The distance between the peak and the valley is the force of contraction, while the amount of peaks per unit of time is the frequency of contraction.

FIgure 1. How to measure the force of contraction.