The Effect of Strength Training on Vastus Lateralis’ Stiffness: An Ultrasound Quasi-Static Elastography Study

Abstract

Ultrasound imaging allows the evaluation of musculoskeletal morphology and function. Ultrasound elastography can also offer semi-quantitative and/or quantitative assessment of tissue stiffness providing relevant information about adaptations of skeletal muscle mechanical properties. In this study we aimed to explore the feasibility of elastography ultrasound imaging in assessing the effect of strength training on vastus lateralis stiffness. Twenty-eight young male adults were separated in a control (n = 9) and strength-training (n = 20) groups. The strength-training group completed 15 weeks of either concentric (n = 10) or eccentric (n = 10) isokinetic training of the knee extensors. Ultrasound scans of the vastus lateralis for quasi-static elastography were collected. All image acquisitions and measurements were done by the same experienced sonographer. After 15 weeks, knee maximal extension isometric torque increased in the strength-training groups. After strength training, there was a decrease in the amount of red pixels in vastus lateralis region of interest [F(1,18) = 25.490; p < 0.001; η2 = 0.586], whereas the amount of green and blue pixels increased F(1,18) = 17.179; p < 0.01; η2 = 0.488; F(1,18) = 6.522; p < 0.05; η2 = 0.266], suggesting higher vastus lateralis stiffness. We conclude that concentric and eccentric strength training increases skeletal muscle stiffness, which can be evaluated by quasi-static elastography. Ultrasound elastography is suitable for non-invasive evaluation of skeletal muscle functional adaptations, which can be of importance for sports medicine and in designing optimal training and rehabilitation programs.

Effects of Different Long-Term Exercise Modalities on Tissue Stiffness

“…A different exercise regime was administered by Santos et al in order to assess maximal concentric or eccentric training effects on vastus lateralis muscle characteristics [ 34 ]. Sedentary participants who were recruited for 15 weeks had to perform, at different range of motion (ROM) [ 35 ] angles, a leg extension exercise.…”

The effect of Liquid ice after high-intensity exercise on muscle function compared to Block ice

“…Damaged muscle during and immediately after exercise becomes stiff over time with further exercise. 25 , 26 Early and rapid cryotherapy after exercises is helpful in controlling acute inflammation; as a result, the inflamed area and deterioration of muscle stiffness are suppressed. 13 , 27 Cryotherapy tends to slow the oxygen demand of mitochondria, thereby decreasing the metabolic demand and inflammation of the muscle.…”

Comparative Study of Muscle Hardness during Water-Walking and Land-Walking Using Ultrasound Real-Time Tissue Elastography in Healthy Young People

“…In recent years, this approach has been increasingly used to evaluate the muscle hardness of skeletal muscle [ 11 , 12 , 13 ]. Although some studies have reported increased muscle hardness after strength training using RTE [ 6 , 7 , 14 ], to the best of our knowledge, few studies have examined changes in lower extremity muscle hardness after aerobic exercise. Among aerobic exercises, water exercise has been reported to improve aerobic capacity [ 15 ], the range of joint motion [ 16 ], pain [ 17 ], and FFD [ 18 ] because of the physical properties of water (density, buoyancy, viscosity, and the effects of hydrostatic pressure and water temperature [ 19 , 20 ] compared with land-walking.…”