Utilization of the hybrid instrument (Figure 1) has the potential to collect muscle hemodynamic data while avoiding some of the drawbacks existing in other assessment methods discussed earlier. Specifically, the hybrid NIRS/DCS instrument is portable, unobtrusive, and quiet while placing less physiological stress on participants as it only requires an optical probe (Figure 1b) over the measurement area (Figure 3) rather than the ingestion or injection of a radiotracer as is required with PET and SPECT technology. Furthermore, measurements are obtained in real time using the hybrid NIRS/DCS instrument rather than requiring adjustments in positioning and additional time for imaging. Once an optical probe is secured over a muscle, MT may be applied to the surrounding area (Figure 3) ensuring that pre and post tissue measurements are of the same location. While expense often inhibits MT researchers from utilizing sophisticated tools such as PET or SPECT, the hybrid NIRS/DCS instrument may be more accessible due to its primary cost occurring at initial procurement of the instrument. Additionally, utilization of the hybrid NIRS/DCS instrument may allow researchers to measure MT effects on muscle hemodynamics in an environment that more accurately assimilates that found in MT clinical practice.