Abstract
PurposeThis study aimed to identify a safe, rapid, and accessible method of estimating muscle volume of key lower limb muscle groups to reduce the time-demand of acquiring this measurement and potentially facilitate its application as a clinical monitoring tool.MethodsUnilateral MRI images were acquired from the 12th thoracic vertebrae to the base of the foot in 18 recreationally active males. Panoramic B-mode ultrasound images were acquired from the same leg at the mid-hip, 25%, 50%, and 75% of thigh length, and 25% of shank length. Body mass, height, limb lengths, and circumferences at the sites corresponding to the ultrasound images were acquired. A single investigator manually analysed all images. Regression analyses were conducted to identify models for estimating volume of the hip extensor, knee extensor and flexor, and ankle plantarflexor muscle groups.ResultsModels were developed for estimating hip extensor (SEE = 8.92%, R2 = 0.690), knee extensor (SEE = 5.24%, R2 = 0.707) and flexor (SEE = 7.89%, R2 = 0.357), and ankle plantarflexor (SEE = 10.78%, R2 = 0.387) muscle group volumes. The hip and knee extensor models showed good potential for generalisation. Systematic error was observed for the knee flexor and ankle plantarflexor models.ConclusionsHip extensor, knee extensor and flexor, and ankle plantarflexor muscle group volumes can be estimated using B-mode ultrasound images and anthropometric measurements. The error shown for each of the models was sufficient to identify previously reported differences in muscle volume due to training or injury, supporting their clinical application.
Highlights
Evidence is available supporting a positive relationship between muscle size and strength (Evangelidis et al 2016), strength improvements have been observed independently of changes in muscle size (Jessee et al 2018)
One model was identified for the hip extensors and ankle plantarflexors and multiple models were identified for the knee flexors and extensors
The model developed for estimating muscle volume (MV) of the hip extensors did not include a measurement of muscle size
Summary
Evidence is available supporting a positive relationship between muscle size and strength (Evangelidis et al 2016), strength improvements have been observed independently of changes in muscle size (Jessee et al 2018). Atrophy of muscles and groups in injured populations has previously been reported in the hip extensors (Jaegers et al 1995; Grimaldi et al 2009a, b), knee flexors and extensors (Mizner et al 2005; Almurdhi et al 2016), and ankle plantarflexors (Almurdhi et al 2016; Feger et al 2016; Handsfield et al 2016). These muscle groups are important for supporting the body during locomotion (hip and knee extensors, and ankle plantarflexors) and providing lower limb stability (knee flexors). Muscle volume has been found to increase with specific training in the knee extensors (Balshaw et al 2017), giving this measurement a role in the monitoring of training and rehabilitation programmes
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