Prediction of the muscle strength by the muscle thickness and hardness using ultrasound muscle hardness meter

Abstract

PurposesThe present study investigated whether a combination of the thickness and hardness of muscles without muscle tension can be used to estimate muscle strength during knee extension in adult males and females.MethodsSeventy-two males and thirty-three females, whose ages ranged from 18 to 35 years, participated in this study. We measured muscle thickness and hardness in the right anterior region of the thigh (rectus femoris muscle and vastus intermedius muscle) without muscle tension using an ultrasound muscle hardness meter, and the maximal voluntary isometric contraction of right knee extension (MVIC). The changing ratios (%) of the tissue thickness before compression to those during compression (compression ratio) are calculated as an index of the hardness. Higher ratio indicates a harder muscle compared with that of other individuals showing the same muscle thickness.ResultsIn male group, although the MVIC had significantly positive correlation to both muscle thickness (r=0.412, p<0.01) and compression ratio (r=0.233, p<0.05), their variables also had correlation mutually. In the female group, the MVIC has significantly positive correlation to only compression ratio (r=0.499, p<0.01), not muscle thickness (r=0.225, n.s.). On multiple linear regression analysis, the combination of two parameters (muscle thickness and compression ratio) allowed more accurate estimation of MVIC (r=0.573, p<0.01) in the female group.ConclusionThese findings suggested that the combination of muscle thickness and hardness is capable of effectively estimating muscle strength especially in females.

Evaluation of the masseter muscle elasticity with the use of acoustic coupling agents as references in strain sonoelastography

“…There are several possible explanations for this discrepancy; anisotropic properties in the human skeletal muscle may be a cause in addition to the differences in modulus and devices used for the measurements. 18,[22][23][24] With the use of the MRE, the shear moduli measured in the direction parallel to the muscle fibre were greater than those measured in the direction perpendicular to the fibre, whereas the values themselves were very different from those reported in earlier studies. 25 In the present study, therefore, we did not express the masseter muscle elasticity in kilopascal using the Young's moduli because the aim of present study was to verify the correlation between the EI ratios and the elasticity of the muscle phantoms.…”

“…Although the ROIs were set roughly just below the reference coupling agent with the same size in all measurements based on the preliminary test, it may be necessary to determine the location and size strictly as factors affecting the reliability of EI ratio. 17,18 The elasticity of the reference coupling agent was observed to vary over time because Figure 4 The relationship between the elasticity index (EI) ratio and the Young's modulus of the muscle phantom. of dehydration of its material.…”

Associations of Trunk Muscle Thickness and Muscle Strength in Healthy Male Adults

“…Statistical analyses were performed using SPSS Statistics V.23 (IBM Inc, Chicago, IL). The reliability of the measured values of the muscle thickness and torque between the 1st and 2nd measurements were examined by the intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) (1,2) and (1…”

“…Muscle strength is needed for physical activity. Since the test of muscle strength needs a person's maximum exertion, the objective assessment of muscle size is often measured in sedentary people (1). Muscle volume which, is related to muscle cross-sectional area and thickness, is associated with muscle strength (2,3).…”

Relationship between displacement of the masseter muscle during biting and masseter muscle quality and bite force in healthy elderly persons

“…Our previous study showed that MMEI was not cor- The present study showed that MMT was not correlated with MMD and MBF. Muscle thickness is an indicator of muscle strength, 28 and it has been reported to correlate with MBF. 14,15 However, the subjects of these studies were young dentate adults, rather than elderly subjects with tooth loss.…”