Echo intensity and muscle thickness as predictors Of athleticism and isometric strength in middle-school boys

The purpose of the present study was to investigate the associations between muscle thickness and echo intensity with cognitive and physical dimensions like functional capacity measured in older people. This cross-sectional study involved 20 older adults (15 women and 5 men, mean age ± SD: 85 ± 7 years, body mass index: 25 ± 3 kg/m2) from a geriatric centre in Malaga (Spain). Anthropometric measurements, cognitive assessment with Pfeiffer Short Portable Mental Status Questionnaire and Motor Memory test, Physical Performance with Short Physical Performance Battery, and muscle strength were tested. Additionally, using B-mode ultrasonography, images of wrist flexors, biceps brachii, rectus femoris, vastus lateralis, medial gastrocnemius, and tibialis anterior were captured, and muscle thickness and echo intensity variables were extracted. An association between muscle parameters assessed by ultrasonography and cognitive and physical dimensions were found in older people. Echo intensity was the best predictor in a set of regression models with different muscle parameters and a battery of cognitive and physical tests in older people. Echo intensity adjusted by handgrip strength could be a low cost and ambulatory index and an indirect and reversible indicator of functional capacity.

Download Full-text

Ultrasonography Comparison of Muscle Thickness and Echo Intensity of the Trunk Muscles and Psoas Major in Healthy Young and Elderly Females

Rigakuryoho Kagaku ◽

10.1589/rika.35.245 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 35 (2) ◽

pp. 245-249

Author(s):

Shoya WAKANA ◽

Takuya KITAMURA ◽

Masaru KANDA ◽

Naritoshi SATO

Keyword(s):

Muscle Thickness ◽

Trunk Muscles ◽

Echo Intensity ◽

Psoas Major

Download Full-text

Relationship of Quadriceps Muscle Thickness with Motor Paralysis and Muscle Echo Intensity in Post-Stroke Patients

European Neurology ◽

10.1159/000500415 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 81 (1-2) ◽

pp. 56-62 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Hisashi Maeda ◽

Ken Imada ◽

Koji Ishida ◽

Hiroshi Akima

Keyword(s):

Muscle Thickness ◽

Quadriceps Muscle ◽

Muscle Quality ◽

Quality Loss ◽

Echo Intensity ◽

Stroke Patients ◽

Post Stroke ◽

Paretic Limb ◽

Motor Paralysis ◽

Relationship Of

Introduction: Quadriceps muscle atrophy and quality loss, defined as an increased ratio of intramuscular fat and/or connective tissue, are often observed especially in the paretic limb of post-stroke patients. This study was performed to examine the relationship of quadriceps muscle thickness (MT) with muscle echo intensity (EI) and the severity of motor paralysis after stroke. Methods: Thirty-six hemiparetic subacute post-stroke patients were enrolled. We examined the MT (index of muscle quantity) and the EI (index of muscle quality) at the anterior mid-thigh in both limbs. We also assessed the Brunnstrom stage (BR stage), subcutaneous adipose tissue thickness, time since stroke, age, body weight, sex, number of medications, and nutritional and inflammation status. Results: The MT in the paretic limb was explained by the BR stage (β = –0.26, p < 0.01), body weight (β = 0.68, p < 0.01), and serum albumin (β = 0.34, p < 0.01), with an adjusted R2 of 0.81. The MT in the non-paretic limb was explained by the muscle EI (β = –0.55, p < 0.01) and age (β = –0.40, p < 0.01), with an adjusted R2 of 0.69. The muscle EI was explained by the MT in the paretic limb (β = –0.34, p < 0.01) and non-paretic limb (β = –0.69, p < 0.01). Conclusions: Our results suggest that motor paralysis, aging, and malnutrition contribute to quadriceps atrophy in post-stroke patients. Moreover, a potential countermeasure to diminish muscle quality loss is maintenance of muscle quantity.

Download Full-text

Age-related changes in muscle thickness and echo intensity of trunk muscles in healthy women: comparison of 20–60s age groups

European Journal of Applied Physiology ◽

10.1007/s00421-020-04412-7 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 120 (8) ◽

pp. 1805-1814 ◽

Cited By ~ 4

Author(s):

Megumi Ota ◽

Tome Ikezoe ◽

Takehiro Kato ◽

Hiroshige Tateuchi ◽

Noriaki Ichihashi

Keyword(s):

Age Groups ◽

Muscle Thickness ◽

Trunk Muscles ◽

Echo Intensity ◽

Healthy Women ◽

Age Related ◽

Age Related Changes

Download Full-text

Effects of Rest Position on Morphology of the Vastus Lateralis and Its Relationship with Lower-Body Strength and Power

Journal of Functional Morphology and Kinesiology ◽

10.3390/jfmk4030064 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 4 (3) ◽

pp. 64 ◽

Cited By ~ 3

Author(s):

Alyssa N. Varanoske ◽

Nicholas A. Coker ◽

Bri-Ana D.I. Johnson ◽

Tal Belity ◽

Gerald T. Mangine ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Vastus Lateralis ◽

Morphological Characteristics ◽

Muscle Thickness ◽

Lower Body ◽

Echo Intensity ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Performance Variables ◽

Body Strength ◽

And Performance ◽

Subcutaneous Adipose

Ultrasonography of the lower body typically encompasses supine rest due to fluid shifts affecting tissue size and composition. However, vastus lateralis (VL) examination is completed in the lateral recumbent position, and this positional change may influence morphology and its ability to predict function. This study aimed to examine the effect of position on VL morphology and its relationship with lower-body performance. Cross-sectional area (CSA), muscle thickness (MT), pennation angle (PA), echo intensity (UnCorEI), subcutaneous adipose tissue thickness (SFT), and echo intensity corrected for SFT (CorEI) were assessed in 31 resistance-trained males (23.0 ± 2.1 yrs; 1.79 ± 0.08 m; 87.4 ± 11.7 kg) immediately after transitioning from standing to supine (IP), after 15 min of standing (ST), and after 15 min of rest in three recumbent positions: supine (SUP), dominant lateral recumbent (DLR), non-dominant lateral recumbent (NDLR). Participants also completed unilateral vertical jumps, isometric/isokinetic tests, and a one-repetition maximum leg press. CSA, MT, PA, and SFT were greater in ST compared to NDLR, DLR, and SUP (p < 0.05). CSA, UnCorEI, and CorEI were different between recumbent positions; however no differences were observed for MT, PA, and SFT. Different magnitudes of relationships were observed between muscle morphological characteristics measured after rest in different positions and performance variables. Muscle morphology in IP generally appears to be the best predictor of performance for most variables, although utilizing the NDLR and DLR positions may provide comparable results, whereas morphology measured in ST and SUP provide weaker relationships with physical performance. IP also requires less time and fewer requirements on the technician and subject, thus researchers should consider this positioning for VL examination.

Download Full-text

Association of physical activity with age-related changes in muscle echo intensity in older adults: a 4-year longitudinal study

Journal of Applied Physiology ◽

10.1152/japplphysiol.00317.2018 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 125 (5) ◽

pp. 1468-1474 ◽

Cited By ~ 8

Author(s):

Yoshihiro Fukumoto ◽

Yosuke Yamada ◽

Tome Ikezoe ◽

Yuya Watanabe ◽

Masashi Taniguchi ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Physical Activity ◽

Older Adults ◽

Longitudinal Study ◽

Muscle Thickness ◽

Quadriceps Femoris ◽

Community Dwelling ◽

Echo Intensity ◽

Longitudinal Changes ◽

Age Related ◽

Age Related Changes

Ultrasonic echo intensity (EI), an easy-to-use measure of intramuscular fat and fibrous tissues, is known to increase with aging. However, age-related changes in EI have not been examined in a longitudinal design. The objective of this study was to investigate 4-yr longitudinal changes in the EI of the quadriceps femoris in older adults, based on difference in physical activity (PA). This study included 131 community-dwelling older adults with a mean age of 72.9 ± 5.2 yr. Subcutaneous fat thickness (FT), muscle thickness (MT), and EI of the quadriceps femoris were measured by ultrasound. Isometric knee extensor strength was also measured. PA was assessed using a questionnaire at baseline, and participants were classified into the high or low PA groups. In 4 yr, a significant decrease in FT, MT, and strength was observed in both groups ( P < 0.05), whereas a significant decrease in EI was observed only in the high PA group ( P < 0.05). Multiple linear regression analyses revealed that the difference in PA was a significant predictor of 4-yr changes in MT (β = 0.189, P = 0.031) and EI (β = −3.145, P = 0.045) but not in the body mass index, FT, or strength adjusted for potential confounders. The present findings suggest that greater PA has a positive effect on longitudinal changes in the MT and EI of the quadriceps femoris in older adults. In addition, greater PA may contribute to a future decrease in EI, and an increase in EI may not occur in 4 yr, even in older adults with lesser PA. NEW & NOTEWORTHY Our results suggest that greater physical activity (PA) may mitigate future changes in muscle thickness and echo intensity (EI). A decrease in EI over 4 yr was observed in older adults with greater PA, and an increase in EI was not observed, even in older adults with smaller PA. Several cross-sectional studies demonstrated an increase in EI with aging. Additionally, the results of our longitudinal study suggest that an age-related increase in EI may be moderated after the old-age period.

Download Full-text