Determination of reference ranges for normal upper trapezius elasticity during different shoulder abduction using shear wave elastography: a preliminary study

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to determine the reference ranges of normal upper trapezius (UT) elasticity during different shoulder abduction using shear wave elastography (SWE). Mean shear wave velocity (SWV) of UT elasticity in eighty healthy participants were measured at left and right shoulder 0° abduction and 90° passive abduction (L0°, R0°, L90°, R90°) with SWE. The effects of potential factors (gender, UT thickness, age, and body mass index) on UT elasticity were analyzed. The reference ranges of normal UT elasticity were calculated by using the normal distribution method. UT elasticity was significantly different among various shoulder abduction (P < 0.0001). UT elasticity was significantly higher in males at both L90° (P < 0.05) and R90° (P < 0.01) than in females. The reference ranges of normal UT elasticity were 2.90–4.01 m/s at L0° and 3.01–4.29 m/s at R0°, and were 4.90–6.40 m/s in males and 4.40–6.20 m/s in females at L90°, 5.20–7.02 m/s in males and 4.71–6.80 m/s in females at R90°. Our results suggest that gender should be considered when determining the reference ranges of normal UT elasticity at L90° and R90° with SWE. These values may provide quantitative baseline measurements for the assessment of UT muscle strain in the future.

Quantitative assessment of normal middle deltoid muscle elasticity at various arm abduction using ultrasound shear wave elastography

“…Moreover, MD elasticity was higher at R90° than R0° ( P < 0.0001), at L90° than L0° ( P < 0.0001). These results are similar to our previous study on normal upper trapezius muscle elasticity 18 . It may be due to intense contraction of the MD during arm 90° active abduction.…”

“…The site of the target MD was fixed at the midpoint level of the MD muscle belly. Specifically, skin surface landmark was at the midpoint from deltoid tuberosity to the midpoint of the acromion 18 . In this region, muscle fibers of the targeted MD were basically parallel and the ROI colormap was stable in our study.…”

Muscle shear wave elastography, conventional B mode and power doppler ultrasonography in healthy adults and patients with autoimmune inflammatory myopathies: a pilot cross-sectional study

“…Although these modalities have been evaluated in neuromuscular disease and muscle injury [ 12 ], their use in IIM remains understudied, particularly in inclusion body myositis (IBM) and necrotising autoimmune myopathy (NAM) that pose diagnostic and management difficulties for clinicians [ 13 , 14 ]. Moreover, there are a limited number of studies with normative ultrasound data for muscle groups that are typically most affected by these forms of myopathy[ 15 , 16 ].…”

Determination of Reference Values of the Masseter Muscle Stiffness in Healthy Adults Using Shear Wave Elastography

“…The reference values for muscles have been mainly established for healthy people. Ewertsen et al [3] determined the reference values for neck and shoulder muscles; Wang et al [4] attempted to determine the reference ranges of stiffness for the upper trapezius during different degrees of shoulder abduction; Lallemant-Dudek et al [5] aimed to define the reference values for healthy muscles and muscles affected by spastic cerebral palsy. Their study focused on the long head of the biceps brachii and medial gastrocnemius.…”