Panoramic ultrasonography is a valid method to measure changes in skeletal muscle cross-sectional area

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to examine the reliability and validity of the "panoramic" brightness mode ultrasonography (US) method to detect training-induced changes in muscle cross-sectional area (CSA) by comparison with results obtained using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Out of 27 young male volunteers, 20 subjects were assigned to training group and seven to non-training control group. Muscle CSAs of vastus lateralis were analyzed by MRI and US before and after 21 weeks of either heavy resistance training or control period. Measured by both the US and MRI, the resistance training induced significant increases (~13-14%, P < 0.001) in muscle CSA, whereas no changes were observed in control group. A high repeatability was found between the two consequent US measurements (intraclass correlation coefficient, ICC of 0.997) with standard error of measurement (SEM) of 0.38 cm(2) and smallest detectable difference of 1.1 cm(2). Validity of the US method against MRI in assessing CSA of VL produced ICC of 0.905 and SEM of 0.87 cm(2) with high limits of agreement analyzed by Bland and Altman method. However, the MRI produced systematically (10 +/- 4%, P < 0.01) larger CSA values than the US method. The US showed high agreement against MRI in detecting changes in muscle CSA (ICC of 0.929, SEM of 0.94 cm(2)). The results of this study showed that the panoramic US method provides repeatable measures of a muscle CSA although MRI produced larger absolute CSA values. Moreover, this US method detects training-induced changes in muscle CSA with a comparable degree of precision to MRI.

Measurement of Segmental Lumbar Spine Flexion and Extension Using Ultrasound Imaging

“…US has been previously used and validated in muscle architecture imaging studies, 2,11,12,15 including a comparison between US imaging and MRI to measure the cross-sectional area of the lumbar multifidus and the vastus lateralis muscles. 1,10 The results of the present study show that measurements using US imaging of the lumbar spinous processes in sagittal plane motion are reliable and generally consistent with those taken by MRI. It is important to note that the small number of subjects in the present study resulted in mostly nonsignificant differences, based on t tests comparing the US and MRI measurements.…”

Efficacy of pelvic floor muscle training and hypopressive exercises for treating pelvic organ prolapse in women: randomized controlled trial

“…According to Ahtiainen et al, muscle CSA, as measured by ultrasonography, is associated directly with hypertrophy. 16 A strong correlation between CSA and muscle strength or contractile capacity has also been shown. 17 Therefore, this measurement directly reflects hypertrophy, and ultrasound is a valid and reproducible method for this measurement.…”

Morphological and functional relationships with ultrasound measured muscle thickness of the upper extremity and trunk

“…They used a compounding technique of ultrasound images, but only a half-round compound scanner, to assess the quadriceps CSA and found that the ultrasound muscle CSA was 30% lower than the CT-measured value at the same site. 3 Over the last 10 years, a limited number of studies [4][5][6][7] have evaluated limb muscle CSA using a technique of compounding ultrasound images. Unfortunately, at this moment, the ultrasound compounding technique to assess muscle CSA is not widely used, which may be due to it being a cumbersome procedure.…”