Correlation between age, muscle architecture, and muscle strength in children with Erb’s palsy

Abstract Background Muscle weakness is a widespread problem in children with Erb’s palsy as it can cause changes in muscle architecture parameters, which can be detected by ultrasonography. This study was conducted to determine the relation between age, muscle architecture, and muscle strength in children with Erb’s palsy. A total of 40 children with Erb’s palsy from both sexes aged 1–2.5 years were included in this study. Muscle thickness and pennation angle were measured by ultrasonography, and muscle strength was measured using the active movement scale. Results A significant relation was found between age, muscle thickness, pennation angle, and muscle strength (P < 0.05). Moreover, a significant difference was found in muscle architecture parameters during relaxation and contraction in both study groups and in each study group (P < 0.05). Conclusion Muscle weakness in children with Erb’s palsy has an effect on muscle architecture parameters, and these parameters also increase with age.

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Chronic Adaptations of the Posterior Rotator Cuff in Professional Pitchers

The American Journal of Sports Medicine ◽

10.1177/0363546520988688 ◽

2021 ◽

pp. 036354652098868

Author(s):

Stephen J. Thomas ◽

Justin Cobb ◽

Scott Sheridan ◽

Joseph Rauch ◽

Ryan W. Paul

Keyword(s):

Soft Tissue ◽

Rotator Cuff ◽

Internal Rotation ◽

External Rotation ◽

Negative Relationship ◽

Muscle Thickness ◽

Pennation Angle ◽

Muscle Architecture ◽

Infraspinatus Muscle ◽

Teres Minor

Background: Because of the large forces and high frequency of throwing, the upper extremity experiences repetitive stresses that lead to acute and chronic adaptations. While the importance of pennation angle and muscle thickness as predictors of muscle force production has been shown in other populations and other joints, there has been little research done that examines these variables in the shoulders of baseball players. Purpose: (1) To examine the chronic effect pitching has on the rotator cuff muscle architecture (pennation angle and muscle thickness) in healthy professional baseball pitchers, and (2) to examine the correlation between muscle architecture and clinical measures of strength and range of motion (ROM). Study Design: Cross-sectional study; Level of evidence, 3. Methods: Twenty-eight healthy professional pitchers were recruited during the 2019 spring training. Internal rotation (IR) and external rotation (ER) strength were measured with a handheld dynamometer and IR and ER ROM were measured with an inclinometer. A diagnostic ultrasound machine was utilized to capture images of humeral retroversion, as well as the pennation angle and muscle thickness of the infraspinatus and teres minor muscles. ImageJ software was used to quantify the pennation angle and muscle thickness. Results: There were no significant differences between the dominant and nondominant arms for ER or IR strength. Also, no pennation angle and muscle thickness differences were found between the dominant and nondominant arms. A weak positive relationship between infraspinatus muscle thickness (superficial and total) and ER strength ( P = .016, R = 0.287 and P = .009, R = 0.316) and a moderate negative relationship between soft tissue glenohumeral internal rotation deficit (GIRD) and the bilateral difference of the teres minor deep pennation angle ( R = −0.477, P = .008) were observed. No other significant relationships were noted. Conclusion: Our results are contrary to current literature as we expected to see a stronger dominant arm, with a larger pennation angle and greater muscle thickness. Interestingly, we found that ER strength was positively related to only the thickness of the infraspinatus muscle, and that soft tissue GIRD was positively related to only the side-to-side adaptation of the pennation angle within the deep portion of the teres minor. This suggests that when posterior shoulder tightness occurs, specifically the architecture of the teres minor muscle is involved. However, the organization to which these players belonged has a very extensive training protocol throughout the year that emphasizes bilateral training during a large majority of the exercises. Therefore, the results may not be generalizable to all professional players.

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Comparison of Muscle Activity and Ultrasound Response of Lower Extremity Muscles During Treadmill and Track Running

Journal of Medical Imaging and Health Informatics ◽

10.1166/jmihi.2021.3634 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 11 (8) ◽

pp. 2091-2096

Author(s):

Chenghui Lin ◽

Shudong Li ◽

Yining Lu ◽

Huw Wiltshire

Keyword(s):

Lower Extremity ◽

Muscle Thickness ◽

Pennation Angle ◽

Treadmill Running ◽

Medial Gastrocnemius ◽

Median Frequency ◽

Muscle Morphology ◽

Change Rate ◽

Lower Extremity Muscle ◽

Significant Difference

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to compare the changes in lower extremity muscle morphology and electromyography (EMG) signals during treadmill running (TR) and plastic track running (PR). Methods: A total of 10 healthy male runners aged 22.5±1.3 years, height: 175.5±4.5 cm; weight: 71.9±2.7 kg; BMI: 22.1±1.1 volunteered to participate in this study. Muscle morphology data were collected by a portable ultrasound scanner before and after running. Median frequency (MF), mean power frequency (MPF) and root mean square (RMS) were monitored during TR and PR. Results: The results indicated that muscle thickness and pennation angle have increased after running. The muscle thickness after PR showed significantly higher than TR in tested muscle except tibialis anterior (TA) and medial gastrocnemius (MG). In contrast, only the pennation angle of TA and lateral gastrocnemius (LG) after PR was significantly different from that after TR (P <0.001, P = 0.002). The most significant difference in the change rate of muscle thickness was found at TA. In addition, TA and MG showed significantly higher change rate of the pennation angle after TR than that after PR. Both of MF and MPF showed a downward trend after TR and PR. It could discover that the MF and MPF of LG during TR showed a significantly lower than that during PR both in two phases (P =0.001, P <0.001). However, in the last 5 minutes, MF and MPF of MQ during PR were smaller than that during PR (P = 0.001, P = 0.015). Furthermore, MF of RF during TR showed significantly different from that during PR (P = 0.017). From the point of RMS, in the first five minutes, the RMS of medical quadriceps (MQ), lateral quadriceps (LQ), hamstring muscles (HM) and MG during TR was significantly higher than that of PR (P <0.05). In addition, the RMS of all tested muscles after TR was significantly higher than after PR during the last 5 minutes (P <0.05). Conclusions: The current study indicated that TR and PR would cause different effects to lower extremity muscle morphology. In addition, the EMG signals based on running surfaces are also unconformity. Compared with the plastic track, the treadmill will bring more stimulation to the lower extremity muscles. The preliminary findings provide further insights into the rationality of runners’ choice of the running surface.

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Effects of long-term athletic training on muscle morphology and tendon stiffness in preadolescence: association with jump performance

European Journal of Applied Physiology ◽

10.1007/s00421-020-04490-7 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 120 (12) ◽

pp. 2715-2727

Author(s):

Nikolaos Pentidis ◽

Falk Mersmann ◽

Sebastian Bohm ◽

Erasmia Giannakou ◽

Nickos Aggelousis ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Muscle Strength ◽

Achilles Tendon ◽

Muscle Hypertrophy ◽

Muscle Thickness ◽

Pennation Angle ◽

Triceps Surae ◽

Plantar Flexors ◽

Tendon Stiffness ◽

Jumping Performance

Abstract Purpose Evidence on training-induced muscle hypertrophy during preadolescence is limited and inconsistent. Possible associations of muscle strength and tendon stiffness with jumping performance are also not investigated. We investigated the thickness and pennation angle of the gastrocnemius medialis muscle (GM), as indicators for potential muscle hypertrophy in preadolescent athletes. Further, we examined the association of triceps surae muscle–tendon properties with jumping performance. Methods Eleven untrained children (9 years) and 21 similar-aged artistic gymnastic athletes participated in the study. Muscle thickness and pennation angle of the GM were measured at rest and muscle strength of the plantar flexors and Achilles tendon stiffness during maximum isometric contractions. Jumping height in squat (SJ) and countermovement jumps (CMJ) was examined using a force plate. We evaluated the influence of normalised muscle strength and tendon stiffness on jumping performance with a linear regression model. Results Muscle thickness and pennation angle did not differ significantly between athletes and non-athletes. In athletes, muscle strength was greater by 25% and jumping heights by 36% (SJ) and 43% (CMJ), but Achilles tendon stiffness did not differ between the two groups. The significant predictor for both jump heights was tendon stiffness in athletes and normalised muscle strength for the CMJ height in non-athletes. Conclusion Long-term artistic gymnastics training during preadolescence seems to be associated with increased muscle strength and jumping performance but not with training-induced muscle hypertrophy or altered tendon stiffness in the plantar flexors. Athletes benefit more from tendon stiffness and non-athletes more from muscle strength for increased jumping performance.

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Comparison of two different doses of citicoline in patients with traumatic brain injury

Journal of Surgery and Trauma ◽

10.32592/jsurgery.2020.8.1.101 ◽

2020 ◽

pp. 8-15

Keyword(s):

Muscle Strength ◽

Small Sample Size ◽

Head Injuries ◽

Study Groups ◽

Small Sample ◽

Positive Effects ◽

Number Of Patients ◽

Significant Difference ◽

Traumatic Head ◽

The Mean

Introduction: The ever-increasing and common occurrence of head traumas highlight the importance of adopting therapeutic measures for the reduction of the associated morbidity and mortality. Citicoline, as a safe medicine with positive effects on improving traumatic injuries, has been proven to be useful in various studies. However, there are still no data on the specific standard method and dosage of citicoline for the treatment of patients with traumatic head injuries. Regarding this, the present study was performed to determine the effective therapeutic dosage of citicoline and its impact on patients with traumatic head injuries. Methods: This double-blind clinical trial was performed on 30 patients with traumatic concussion (a Glasgow coma scale [GCS] of ≤8) admitted to the intensive care unit and neurosurgery department. The patients were randomly divided into three groups of A (control), B (citicoline with a dosage of 0.5 g/twice a day), and C (citicoline with a dosage of 1.5 g/twice a day). The GCS, degree of muscle strength, Glasgow outcome score (GOS), contusion volume, and cerebral edema (based on brain CT scans) were calculated at specific times and intervals. In addition, the patients' dependency on a ventilator and their length of ICU stay were registered. Results: Mean GCS on the first day of stay, GCS changes on the third and fourth days of stay, first and seventh days of stay, seventh and fourteenth days of stay, and first and fourteenth days of stay in the three study groups showed the significant statistical difference (P<0.05). Significant statistical differences were seen between the GOS of the 30th day of stay in the three study groups (P<0.05). The contusion volume difference was only significant between the first and seventh days of stay in groups A and C (P<0.05). No significant difference was observed in the mean length of stay in ICU and duration of dependency on a ventilator in the three study groups (P<0.05). The mean degree of muscle strength was only significantly different on the first day of stay between groups B and C (P=0.008). Conclusions: In contrary to similar studies, the results of the current study revealed that citicoline had no positive effect on patient healing. This result may be due to the small sample size and the inconsistent first-day GCSs of the patients in all three groups. Therefore, given the confirmation of the effectiveness of citicoline even at higher dosages in other studies in future studies, it is recommended to use populations with a larger number of patients.

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Erratum to: Association between ultrasound measurements of muscle thickness, pennation angle, echogenicity and skeletal muscle strength in the elderly

AGE ◽

10.1007/s11357-013-9549-4 ◽

2013 ◽

Vol 35 (5) ◽

pp. 2025-2026 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Eva Maria Strasser ◽

Thomas Draskovits ◽

Markus Praschak ◽

Michael Quittan ◽

Alexandra Graf

Keyword(s):

Skeletal Muscle ◽

Muscle Strength ◽

Muscle Thickness ◽

The Elderly ◽

Pennation Angle ◽

Ultrasound Measurements ◽

Skeletal Muscle Strength

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Effects of the Functional Heel Drop Exercise on the Muscle Architecture of the Gastrocnemius

Journal of Sport Rehabilitation ◽

10.1123/jsr.2019-0150 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 29 (8) ◽

pp. 1053-1059

Author(s):

Diego Alonso-Fernandez ◽

Yaiza Taboada-Iglesias ◽

Tania García-Remeseiro ◽

Águeda Gutiérrez-Sánchez

Keyword(s):

Repeated Measures ◽

Muscle Thickness ◽

Pennation Angle ◽

Muscle Architecture ◽

Medial Gastrocnemius ◽

Control Group ◽

Fascicle Length ◽

Rehabilitation Programs ◽

Architectural Characteristics ◽

Induced Changes

Context: The architectural characteristics of a muscle determine its function. Objective: To determine the architectural adaptations of the lateral gastrocnemius (LG) and medial gastrocnemius (MG) muscles after a functional eccentric strength training protocol consisting of heel drop exercises, followed by a subsequent detraining period. Design: Pretest and posttest. Setting: Training rooms and laboratory. Participants: The participants (N = 45) who were randomly divided into an experimental group (EG, n = 25) and a control group (CG, n = 20). Interventions: The 13-week intervention included participants (N = 45) who were randomly divided into an EG (n = 25) and a CG (n = 20). The EG performed a week of control and training, 8 weeks of eccentric training, and 4 weeks of detraining. The CG did not perform any type of muscular training. The architectural characteristics of the LG and MG muscles were evaluated at rest in both groups using 2-D ultrasound before (pretest–week 1) and after (posttest–week 9) the training, and at the end of the detraining period (retest–week 13). Main Outcome Measures: One-way repeated measures analysis of variance was used to determine training-induced changes in each of the variables of the muscle architecture. Results: After the training period, the members of the EG experienced a significant increase in the fascicle length of LG (t = −9.85, d = 2.78, P < .001) and MG (t = −8.98, d = 2.54, P < .001), muscle thickness (t = −6.71, d = 2.86, P < .001) and (t = −7.85, d = 2.22, P < .001), and the pennation angle (t = −10.21, d = 1.88, P < .05) and (t = −1.87, d = 0.53, P < .05), respectively. After the detraining period, fascicle length, muscle thickness, and pennation angle showed a significant decrease. In the CG, no significant changes were observed in any of the variables. Conclusions: The heel drop exercise seems to generate adaptations in the architectural conditions of LG and MG, which are also reversible after a detraining period. These results may have practical implications for injury prevention and rehabilitation programs.

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Morphological Parameters in Quadriceps Muscle Were Associated with Clinical Features and Muscle Strength of Women with Rheumatoid Arthritis: A Cross-Sectional Study

Diagnostics ◽

10.3390/diagnostics11112014 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 11 (11) ◽

pp. 2014

Author(s):

Leonardo Peterson dos Santos ◽

Rafaela Cavalheiro do Espírito Santo ◽

Émerson Pena ◽

Lucas Denardi Dória ◽

Vanessa Hax ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Rheumatoid Arthritis ◽

Muscle Strength ◽

Disease Duration ◽

Muscle Thickness ◽

Quadriceps Muscle ◽

Cross Sectional Study ◽

Pennation Angle ◽

Morphological Parameters ◽

Sectional Study ◽

Cross Sectional

Background: Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is an autoimmune, inflammatory and chronic disease that may lead to loss of muscle mass, muscle strength and decreased functionality. Our objectives are to assess the quadriceps muscle morphology by ultrasound (MU) and verify its associations with clinical features, muscle strength and physical function in RA patients. Methods: In this cross-sectional study, RA women (≥18 years) were included. Morphological parameters in quadriceps muscle consisted of the muscle thickness and pennation angle of rectus femoris (RF), vastus intermedius (VI) and vastus lateralis (VL). RA activity was measured by a 28-joint disease activity score (DAS28), muscle strength by handgrip and chair stand tests, and physical function by health assessment questionnaire (HAQ), timed-up-and-go (TUG) test and short physical performance battery (SPPB). Results: Fifty-five patients were included (age: 56.73 ± 9.46 years; DAS28: 3.08 ± 1.29). Muscle thickness in RF, VI and VL were negatively associated with age (RF, p < 0.001; VI, p = 0.013; VL, p = 0.002) and disease duration (RF, p < 0.001; VI, p = 0.005; VL, p = 0.001), and were positively associated with handgrip strength (RF, p = 0.015; VI, p = 0.022; VL, p = 0.013). In addition, decreased muscle thickness in VI (p = 0.035) and a smaller pennation angle in RF (p = 0.030) were associated with higher DAS-28 scores. Conclusion: Quadriceps muscle morphology by ultrasound appears to be affected by age, disease duration, disease activity and muscle strength in patients with RA. MU can be a useful method to evaluate the impact of the disease on skeletal muscle.

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Muscle Architecture In Patients With Sjogren's Syndrome

10.22541/au.160917053.38843760/v1 ◽

2020 ◽

Author(s):

Duygu Tecer ◽

Dilek Büyükşireci ◽

ZAFER GÜNENDİ ◽

Jale Meray ◽

Feride Gogus

Keyword(s):

Muscle Strength ◽

Sjogren’S Syndrome ◽

Sjogren's Syndrome ◽

Pennation Angle ◽

Muscle Architecture ◽

Anxiety And Depression ◽

Healthy Controls ◽

Isokinetic Muscle Strength ◽

Ankle Muscle ◽

Sjögren‘S Syndrome

Aim: To investigate the effect of primary (pSS) on skeletal muscle architecture and strength. Method: 19 pSS patients and 19 age, body mass index and sex matched healthy controls were included. Symptoms of subject’s were assessed with ESSPRI (The EULAR Sjogren’s Syndrome Patient Reported Index), anxiety and depression with the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS), fatigue with Multidimensional Assessment of Fatigue scale (MAF), functionality with HAQ. Ultrasonographic evaluations were performed with a multifrequency linear probe from quadriceps femoralis, gastrocnemius and soleus of the bilateral lower extremity. Muscle thickness, pennation angle and fascicle length were measured. Isokinetic knee muscle strength tests were performed at 60 and 180°/s. Isokinetic ankle muscle strenght tests were performed at 30 and 120°/s. Result: In pSS group, mean ESSPRI was 7.70±1.17. Scores of depression (10.05 ± 3.09 vs 4.47 ± 2.29 p<0.0001), anxiety (8.26 ± 4.28 vs 3.79 ± 2.42 p<0.0001), functionality (0.94 ± 0.78 vs 0.22 ± 0.26, p<0.0001), fatigue (37.69 ± 5.47 vs 17.69 ± 5.26, p<0.0001) were significantly higher in patients with pSS than healthy controls. In dominant leg, pennation angle of vastus medialis was significantly greater in healthy controls than in patients with pSS (p=0.049). The other ultrasonographic measurements were similar between the two groups. Peak torque/body weight of knee and ankle muscle were found to be similar. Conclusion: Although patients with pSS have some minor structural changes on ultrasonographic evaluation, isokinetic muscle strength were similar between groups. In patients with pSS, disease activity and fatigue level were negatively correlated with isokinetic muscle strength measurement.

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Gastrocnemius Muscle Architecture in Elite Basketballers and Cyclists: A Cross-Sectional Cohort Study

Frontiers in Sports and Active Living ◽

10.3389/fspor.2021.768846 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 3 ◽

Author(s):

Samantha May ◽

Simon Locke ◽

Michael Kingsley

Keyword(s):

Muscle Activation ◽

Gastrocnemius Muscle ◽

Female Athletes ◽

Muscle Thickness ◽

Muscle Architecture ◽

Ultrasound Images ◽

Mechanical Stimuli ◽

Fascicle Length ◽

Tibial Length ◽

Significant Difference

Eccentric and concentric actions produce distinct mechanical stimuli and result in different adaptations in skeletal muscle architecture. Cycling predominantly involves concentric activity of the gastrocnemius muscles, while playing basketball requires both concentric and eccentric actions to support running, jumping, and landing. The aim of this study was to examine differences in the architecture of gastrocnemius medialis (GM) and gastrocnemius lateralis (GL) between elite basketballers and cyclists. A trained sonographer obtained three B-mode ultrasound images from GM and GL muscles in 44 athletes (25 basketballers and 19 cyclists; 24 ± 5 years of age). The images were digitized and average fascicle length (FL), pennation angle (θ), and muscle thickness were calculated from three images per muscle. The ratio of FL to tibial length (FL/TL) and muscle thickness to tibial length (MT/TL) was also calculated to account for the potential scaling effect of stature. In males, no significant differences were identified between the athletic groups in all parameters in the GM, but a significant difference existed in muscle thickness in the GL. In basketballers, GL was 2.5 mm thicker (95% CI: 0.7–4.3 mm, p = 0.011) on the left side and 2.6 mm thicker (95% CI: 0.6–5.7 mm, p = 0.012) on the right side; however, these differences were not significant when stature was accounted for (MT/TL). In females, significant differences existed in the GM for all parameters including FL/TL and MT/TL. Female cyclists had longer FL in both limbs (MD: 11.2 and 11.3 mm), narrower θ (MD: 2.1 and 1.8°), and thicker muscles (MD: 2.1 and 2.5 mm). For the GL, female cyclists had significantly longer FL (MD: 5.2 and 5.8 mm) and narrower θ (MD: 1.7 and 2.3°) in both limbs; no differences were observed in absolute muscle thickness or MT/TL ratio. Differences in gastrocnemius muscle architecture were observed between female cyclists and basketballers, but not between males. These findings suggest that participation in sport-specific training might influence gastrocnemius muscle architecture in elite female athletes; however, it remains unclear as to whether gastrocnemius architecture is systematically influenced by the different modes of muscle activation between these respective sports.

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Partial-thickness Rotator Cuff Tear Itself Did Not Cause Shoulder Pain Or Muscle Weakness In Baseball Players

Orthopaedic Journal of Sports Medicine ◽

10.1177/2325967119s00430 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 7 (7_suppl5) ◽

pp. 2325967119S0043

Author(s):

Teruhisa Mihata ◽

Rei Morikura ◽

Kunimoto Fukunishi ◽

Yukitaka Fujisawa ◽

Takeshi Kawakami ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Rotator Cuff ◽

Muscle Strength ◽

Shoulder Pain ◽

Muscle Weakness ◽

Return To Play ◽

Rotator Cuff Tears ◽

Tendon Tear ◽

Baseball Players ◽

Partial Thickness ◽

Significant Difference

Objectives: Rotator cuff tears are common shoulder injuries in baseball players. In some severe tears (i.e. through more than 50% of the cuff’s thickness), conservative treatment does not work well, and surgical treatment is sometimes chosen in an effort to ensure return to play. In contrast, some partial thickness rotator cuff tears do not cause shoulder symptoms, even during throwing motion. The objective of this study was to assess whether partial thickness rotator cuff tears cause shoulder pain and muscle weakness in baseball players. Methods: We studied 87 university baseball players (age: 19.5±0.8 years; baseball career: 11.5±1.6 years). Rotator cuff tendons were ultrasonographically examined (Fig 1), then divided into 4 groups; (1) no tear, (2) supraspinatus tendon tear, (3) infraspinatus tendon tear, (4) both supraspinatus and infraspinatus tendons tear. Current shoulder pain and shoulder muscle strength (Dominant/Non-dominant) in abduction, external rotation, and internal rotation were compared using Chi square test and t-test. Results: Forty-one (47%) players were diagnosed with articular-sided partial-thickness rotator cuff tears using ultrasonography. Nineteen tears were in the supraspinatus, 13 in the infraspinatus, and 9 in both the supraspinatus and the infraspinatus. Tear depth was 4.6±2.3 mm in the supraspinatus and 6.2±3.6 mm in the infraspinatus. There was no significant difference in rate of shoulder pain (p=0.96) and muscle strength among four groups (p=0.15 - 0.70). Conclusion: In this study, articular-sided partial-thickness rotator cuff tears did not cause shoulder pain and muscle weakness in university baseball players. Most of articular-sided partial-thickness rotator cuff tears are tears of the superior capsule but not the rotator cuff tendons, because the superior capsule is attached in the articular half of the greater tuberosity. Therefore, most so-called articular-sided partial-thickness rotator cuff tears may not be pathological tendon tear.

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