Juan A Valera-Calero1, Gracia Gallego-Sendarrubias2, César Fernández-de-Las-Peñas3, Joshua A Cleland4, Ricardo Ortega-Santiago3, José L Arias-Buría3. 1. Department of Physical Therapy, Universidad Camilo José Cela, Villanueva de La Cañada, Madrid, Spain; Escuela Internacional de Doctorado, Universidad Rey Juan Carlos, Alcorcón, Spain. Electronic address: javaleracalero@gmail.com. 2. Department of Physical Therapy, Universidad Camilo José Cela, Villanueva de La Cañada, Madrid, Spain. 3. Department of Physical Therapy, Occupational Therapy, Rehabilitation and Physical Medicine, Universidad Rey Juan Carlos, Alcorcón, Spain; Cátedra Institucional en Docencia, Clínica e Investigación en Fisioterapia: Terapia Manual, Punción Seca y Ejercicio Terapéutico, Universidad Rey Juan Carlos, Alcorcón, Madrid, Spain. 4. Doctor of Physical Therapy Program, Department of Public Health and Community Medicine, Tufts University School of Medicine, Boston, Mass, USA.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Studies analyzing morphometry of neck extensor musculature have mostly used Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI). Panoramic Ultrasound View could be used for obtaining high-quality 2D cross-sectional images with a wide field of view more cost-effectively imaging acquisition by creating an automatic construction of 2D cross-sectional images. OBJECTIVE: To measure neck extensors cross-sectional area (CSA) using panoramic ultrasound view in healthy subjects. DESIGN: Cross-sectional study. METHODS: Panoramic B-mode ultrasound images of the neck extensor muscles at C4/C5 level were acquired in 25 healthy subjects (40% women, mean age: 24 ± 5 years) by an experienced assessor. The CSA of the upper trapezius, splenius (layer), semispinalis (layer), multifidi, short rotators, and levator scapulae were calculated. The relative percentage in the total neck extensor muscle volume of each CSA was also determined. Sex and side-to-side comparisons were conducted. RESULTS: Men showed larger CSAs than women in all muscles (all, P < 0.01). No side-to-side differences were found in either men or women (all, P > 0.05). Significant positive associations between CSA with weight (r: 0.654 to 0.375, P < 0.01), height (r: 0.386 to 0.581, P < 0.05), and BMI (r: 0.369 to 0.563, P < 0.05) were found. Men showed greater percentage of upper trapezius and semispinalis muscle layers than women (P < 0.01), whereas women had a greater percentage of levator scapulae muscle than men (P < 0.01) from the total volume of the neck extensors. No side-to-side differences were found either. CONCLUSIONS: The current study describes CSA, as assessed with panoramic ultrasound view, of the neck extensors in healthy people. Men exhibited greater CSA than women with no side-to-side differences.
BACKGROUND: Studies analyzing morphometry of neck extensor musculature have mostly used Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI). Panoramic Ultrasound View could be used for obtaining high-quality 2D cross-sectional images with a wide field of view more cost-effectively imaging acquisition by creating an automatic construction of 2D cross-sectional images. OBJECTIVE: To measure neck extensors cross-sectional area (CSA) using panoramic ultrasound view in healthy subjects. DESIGN: Cross-sectional study. METHODS: Panoramic B-mode ultrasound images of the neck extensor muscles at C4/C5 level were acquired in 25 healthy subjects (40% women, mean age: 24 ± 5 years) by an experienced assessor. The CSA of the upper trapezius, splenius (layer), semispinalis (layer), multifidi, short rotators, and levator scapulae were calculated. The relative percentage in the total neck extensor muscle volume of each CSA was also determined. Sex and side-to-side comparisons were conducted. RESULTS:Men showed larger CSAs than women in all muscles (all, P < 0.01). No side-to-side differences were found in either men or women (all, P > 0.05). Significant positive associations between CSA with weight (r: 0.654 to 0.375, P < 0.01), height (r: 0.386 to 0.581, P < 0.05), and BMI (r: 0.369 to 0.563, P < 0.05) were found. Men showed greater percentage of upper trapezius and semispinalis muscle layers than women (P < 0.01), whereas women had a greater percentage of levator scapulae muscle than men (P < 0.01) from the total volume of the neck extensors. No side-to-side differences were found either. CONCLUSIONS: The current study describes CSA, as assessed with panoramic ultrasound view, of the neck extensors in healthy people. Men exhibited greater CSA than women with no side-to-side differences.