R Santos1, M J Valamatos2, P Mil-Homens2, P A S Armada-da-Silva2. 1. Universidade de Lisboa, Faculdade de Motricidade Humana, Estrada da Costa 1499-002, Portugal; Instituto Politécnico de Coimbra, Escola Superior de Tecnologia de Saúde de Coimbra, Departamento Imagem Médica e Radioterapia, Rua 5 de Outubro, Apartado 7006, 3046-854 Coimbra, Portugal. Electronic address: rutemartinssantos@gmail.com. 2. Universidade de Lisboa, Faculdade de Motricidade Humana, Estrada da Costa 1499-002, Portugal; Universidade de Lisboa, Faculdade de Motricidade Humana, Centro para o Estudo da Performance Humana, Estrada da Costa 1499-002, Portugal.
Abstract
INTRODUCTION: Ultrasound (US) has an important role in musculoskeletal (MSK) evaluation, allowing the study of muscle morphology and function. Muscle thickness (MT) and muscle echo-intensity (EI) are two important parameters that may quantify muscle structural adaptations to a variety of stimuli. The aim was to explore the potential of quantitative US imaging for assessing the adaptations and responses of the muscle tissue to increased contractile activity using B-mode US. This study was centred on the quadriceps femoris muscle contractile activity on MT and EI. METHODS AND MATERIALS: Twenty-eight young male adults participated in the study, divided in a control group and two training groups performing concentric or eccentric strength training, respectively. The effect of a 15-week strength program was studied on MT and EI in several regions of the heads of the quadriceps femoris using B-mode US. All images acquisitions and measurements were done by the same experience sonographer. RESULTS: Strength training resulted in an increase of MT at all muscles and sites (p < 0.05), except the VM. Strength training failed in changing EI in most of the quadriceps femoris, except in the VI and some regions of the VL. No statistically significant differences were observed in our quantitative US parameters between concentric and eccentric training (p > 0.05). CONCLUSION: These results emphasise the value of MT as a quantifiable muscle US method for evaluating muscle adaptation to exercise training. However, the inconsistency of the EI values indicates that more studies are needed to develop it as an accurate diagnostic tool.
INTRODUCTION: Ultrasound (US) has an important role in musculoskeletal (MSK) evaluation, allowing the study of muscle morphology and function. Muscle thickness (MT) and muscle echo-intensity (EI) are two important parameters that may quantify muscle structural adaptations to a variety of stimuli. The aim was to explore the potential of quantitative US imaging for assessing the adaptations and responses of the muscle tissue to increased contractile activity using B-mode US. This study was centred on the quadriceps femoris muscle contractile activity on MT and EI. METHODS AND MATERIALS: Twenty-eight young male adults participated in the study, divided in a control group and two training groups performing concentric or eccentric strength training, respectively. The effect of a 15-week strength program was studied on MT and EI in several regions of the heads of the quadriceps femoris using B-mode US. All images acquisitions and measurements were done by the same experience sonographer. RESULTS: Strength training resulted in an increase of MT at all muscles and sites (p < 0.05), except the VM. Strength training failed in changing EI in most of the quadriceps femoris, except in the VI and some regions of the VL. No statistically significant differences were observed in our quantitative US parameters between concentric and eccentric training (p > 0.05). CONCLUSION: These results emphasise the value of MT as a quantifiable muscle US method for evaluating muscle adaptation to exercise training. However, the inconsistency of the EI values indicates that more studies are needed to develop it as an accurate diagnostic tool.
Authors: Jaquelini Betta Canever; Fábio Juner Lanferdini; Bruno Monteiro de Moura; Fernando Diefenthaeler; Kelly Mônica Marinho E Lima Journal: J Ultrasound Date: 2021-09-14