The value of diffusion tensor imaging in the quantitative study of thigh muscles in amateur marathon runners

Abstract

Objective To test the differences in diffusion properties-namely fractional anisotropy (FA) and apparent diffusion coefficient(ADC)-between amateur marathon runners and healthy volunteers′ thigh muscles using diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) at rest. Methods Thirty amateur marathon runners(Group A) and 20 healthy volunteers (Group B) were recruited. All were males and their age was between 28 to 53 years. All subjects underwent both thigh DTI examination. DTI parameters FA and ADC were evaluated in thigh muscles(rectus femoris, vastus lateralis, vastus intermedius, vastus medialis, adductor longus, adductor magnus, biceps femoris long head, semitendinosus and semimembranosus)in all subjects. We tested the differences in diffusion properties between GroupA and B using independent sample t test. Results The average FA value of the thigh muscles measured in Group A was (0.24±0.03), which was significantly lower than that in Group B=(0.27±0.03)(t=5.164,P<0.01). The average ADC value of the thigh muscles measured in Group A was (1.74±0.10)×10-3mm2/s, which was significantly higher than that in Group B=(1.70±0.09)×10-3mm2/s (t=2.060,P<0.05). The FA value of Group A was lower than that of Group B in the rectus femoris, vastus lateralis, vastus medialis, biceps femoris long head, semitendinosus and semimembranosus (P<0.05). The ADC value of Group A was higher than that of Group B in the vastus intermedius, vastus medialis and biceps femoris long head (P<0.05). Conclusions In the absence of positive findings from conventional MRI, DTI technique can non-invasively assess the subtle changes in the bilateral thigh muscles of amateur marathon runners at rest in the early stage of microscopic molecular level, providing important imaging evidence for early changes in skeletal muscle caused by marathon. Key words: Athletic injuries; Muscle, skeletal; Magnetic resonance imaging; Diffusion tensor imaging; Marathon