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European Journal of Applied Physiology

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01-05-2017 | Original Article

Relationship between isometric contraction intensity and muscle hardness assessed by ultrasound strain elastography

Authors: Takayuki Inami, Toru Tsujimura, Takuya Shimizu, Takemasa Watanabe, Wing Yin Lau, Kazunori Nosaka

Published in: European Journal of Applied Physiology | Issue 5/2017

Abstract

Introduction

Ultrasound elastography is used to assess muscle hardness or stiffness; however, no previous studies have validated muscle hardness measures using ultrasound strain elastography (SE). This study investigated the relationship between plantar flexor isometric contraction intensity and gastrocnemius hardness assessed by SE. We hypothesised that the muscle would become harder linearly with an increase in the contraction intensity of the plantar flexors.

Methods

Fifteen young women (20.1 ± 0.8 years) performed isometric contractions of the ankle plantar flexors at four different intensities (25, 50, 75, 100% of maximal voluntary contraction force: MVC) at 0° plantar flexion. Using SE images, the strain ratio (SR) between the muscle and an acoustic coupler (elastic modulus 22.6 kPa) placed over the skin was calculated (muscle/coupler); pennation angle and muscle thickness were measured for the resting and contracting conditions.

Results

SR decreased with increasing contraction intensity from rest (1.28 ± 0.20) to 25% (0.99 ± 0.21), 50% (0.61 ± 0.15), 75% (0.34 ± 0.1) and 100% MVC (0.20 ± 0.05). SR decreased linearly (P < 0.05) with increasing MVC from rest to 75% MVC, but levelled off from 75 and 100% MVC. SR was negatively correlated with pennation angle (r = −0.80, P < 0.01) and muscle thickness ( r= −0.78, P< 0.01).

Conclusion

SR appears to represent muscle hardness changes in response to contraction intensity changes, in the assumption that the gastrocnemius muscle contraction intensity is proportional to the plantar flexion intensity. We concluded that gastrocnemius muscle hardness changes could be validly assessed by SR, and the force–hardness relationship was not linear.

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Title: Relationship between isometric contraction intensity and muscle hardness assessed by ultrasound strain elastography
Authors: Takayuki Inami
Toru Tsujimura
Takuya Shimizu
Takemasa Watanabe
Wing Yin Lau
Kazunori Nosaka
Publication date: 01-05-2017
Publisher: Springer Berlin Heidelberg
Published in: European Journal of Applied Physiology / Issue 5/2017
Print ISSN: 1439-6319
Electronic ISSN: 1439-6327
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00421-016-3528-2

At a glance: The STEP trials

Springer Medicine

Relationship between isometric contraction intensity and muscle hardness assessed by ultrasound strain elastography

Abstract

Introduction

Methods

Results

Conclusion

At a glance: The STEP trials

Springer Medicine

Abstract

Introduction

Methods

Results

Conclusion

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