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Melo AS, Montóia B, Cruz EB, Vilas-Boas JP, Sousa AS. Scapular muscle dynamic stiffness of asymptomatic subjects and subjects with chronic shoulder pain, at rest and isometric contraction conditions. Proc Inst Mech Eng H 2024; 238:288-300. [PMID: 38403635 DOI: 10.1177/09544119241228082] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/27/2024]
Abstract
Muscle stiffness had a crucial role in joint stability, particularly, at the shoulder complex. Although changes in upper trapezius muscle stiffness have been described for shoulder pain, contradictory findings have been obtained. Also, existing data regarding scapular muscles are, majorly, about trapezius. Myotonometry is a method used to assess stiffness; however, the reliability values of scapular muscle stiffness through this method have not been assessed in shoulder pain conditions. The present study aims to compare scapular muscles' stiffness (trapezius, serratus anterior, and levator scapulae) between subjects with and without chronic shoulder pain and to evaluate the related test-retest reliability. Twenty-two symptomatic and twenty-two asymptomatic subjects participated in a cross-sectional study. The dynamic muscular stiffness of scapular muscles, at rest and during an isometric contraction, was measured bilaterally with myotonometry, in two moments. The differences in bilateral averaged values between symptomatic and asymptomatic subjects and the effect of the group (group presenting pain in the dominant or non-dominant side, and asymptomatic group) and of the limb (unilateral painful or asymptomatic limb, and bilateral asymptomatic limbs) were investigated. Test-retest intra-rater reliability was determined. An effect of the group was observed at rest, for middle trapezius stiffness, and during contraction, for middle and lower trapezius stiffness. For middle trapezius, increased values were observed in the group presenting pain in non-dominant side comparing to both groups or to group presenting pain in dominant side. The intraclass correlation coefficient, majorly, ranged between 0.775 and 0.989. Participants with pain in the non-dominant side presented an increased middle trapezius' stiffness. Globally, high reliability was observed for scapular muscles dynamic stiffness.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ana Sc Melo
- Centro de Investigação em Reabilitação (CIR), Escola Superior de Saúde, Instituto Politécnico do Porto, Porto, Portugal
- Centro de Investigação em Actividade Física, Saúde e Lazer (CIAFEL), Faculdade de Desporto, Universidade do Porto, Porto, Portugal
- Laboratório de Biomecânica do Porto (LABIOMEP), Universidade do Porto, Porto, Portugal
- Centro Interdisciplinar de Investigação Aplicada em Saúde (CIIAS), Escola Superior de Saúde, Instituto Politécnico de Setúbal, Setúbal, Portugal
| | - Bárbara Montóia
- Escola Superior de Saúde, Politécnico do Porto, Porto, Portugal
| | - Eduardo B Cruz
- Departamento de Fisioterapia, Escola Superior de Saúde, Instituto Politécnico de Setúbal, Setúbal, Portugal
- Centro de Investigação Integrada em Saúde (CHRC), Universidade Nova de Lisboa, Lisboa, Portugal
| | - J Paulo Vilas-Boas
- Laboratório de Biomecânica do Porto (LABIOMEP), Universidade do Porto, Porto, Portugal
- Centro de Investigação, Formação, Inovação e Intervenção em Desporto (CIFI2D), Faculdade de Desporto, Universidade do Porto, Porto, Portugal
| | - Andreia Sp Sousa
- Centro de Investigação em Reabilitação (CIR), Escola Superior de Saúde, Instituto Politécnico do Porto, Porto, Portugal
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Kopecká B, Ravnik D, Jelen K, Bittner V. Objective Methods of Muscle Tone Diagnosis and Their Application-A Critical Review. SENSORS (BASEL, SWITZERLAND) 2023; 23:7189. [PMID: 37631726 PMCID: PMC10458714 DOI: 10.3390/s23167189] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/07/2023] [Revised: 08/09/2023] [Accepted: 08/10/2023] [Indexed: 08/27/2023]
Abstract
"Muscle tone" is a clinically important and widely used term and palpation is a crucial skill for its diagnosis. However, the term is defined rather vaguely, and palpation is not measurable objectively. Therefore, several methods have been developed to measure muscle tone objectively, in terms of biomechanical properties of the muscle. This article aims to summarize these approaches. Through database searches, we identified those studies related to objective muscle tone measurement in vivo, in situ. Based on them, we described existing methods and devices and compared their reliability. Furthermore, we presented an extensive list of the use of these methods in different fields of research. Although it is believed by some authors that palpation cannot be replaced by a mechanical device, several methods have already proved their utility in muscle biomechanical property diagnosis. There appear to be two issues preventing wider usage of these objective methods in clinical practice. Firstly, a high variability of their reliability, and secondly, a lack of valid mathematical models that would provide the observed mechanical characteristics with a clear physical significance and allow the results to be compared with each other.
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Affiliation(s)
- Barbora Kopecká
- Faculty of Physical Education and Sport, Charles University, 162 52 Prague, Czech Republic
| | - David Ravnik
- Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Primorska, 6310 Izola, Slovenia
| | - Karel Jelen
- Faculty of Physical Education and Sport, Charles University, 162 52 Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Václav Bittner
- Faculty of Science, Humanities and Education, Technical University of Liberec, 461 17 Liberec, Czech Republic
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Tous C, Jodoin A, Grabs D, Van Houten E, Bureau NJ. Intersession Repeatability of
Diffusion‐Tensor
Imaging in the Supraspinatus and the Infraspinatus Muscles of Volunteers. J Magn Reson Imaging 2022; 57:1414-1422. [PMID: 36305562 DOI: 10.1002/jmri.28424] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/10/2022] [Revised: 08/19/2022] [Accepted: 08/22/2022] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Quantifying the rotator cuff (RC) muscles' viscoelasticity could provide outcome relevant information in patients with RC tears. MR-elastography requires robust diffusion-tensor imaging (DTI) to account for tissue anisotropy in muscles stiffness computation. PURPOSE To assess the repeatability of DTI parameters in the supraspinatus and infraspinatus muscles and to explore DTI tractography conformity with the muscles' anatomy. STUDY TYPE Prospective. SUBJECTS Six healthy volunteers underwent three consecutive shoulder MRI sessions about 10 minutes apart. FIELD STRENGTH/SEQUENCE 3T/T1-vibe Dixon and Spin echo EPI DTI (12 gradient encoding directions, b-values 500 and 800 sec/mm2 ). ASSESSMENT Supraspinatus and infraspinatus muscles were segmented on the T1-vibe Dixon sequence. DTI image quality was assessed using a quantitative threshold based on the signal-to-noise ratio (SNR). The eigenvalues ( λ 1 , λ 2 , λ 3 ), fractional anisotropy (FA) and mean diffusivity were calculated. DTI tractography was visually assessed. STATISTICAL TESTS DTI parameters within-subject intersession repeatability was assessed with Bland-Altman analysis and the coefficient of variation (CV). Repeatability was considered good for CV < 10%. RESULTS The SNR between diffusion-weighted and non-diffusion-weighted images was greater than 3, which aligns with standards for estimating DTI parameters. The FA showed the lowest mean bias (-0.007; 95% confidence interval [CI] -0.031 to 0.018) whereas the λ1 had the highest mean bias (0.146 × 10-3 mm2 /sec; CI -0.034 to 0.326 × 10-3 mm2 /sec). CVs of the DTI parameters varied between 3.5% (FA) and 8.4% (λ3 ) for the supraspinatus and between 3.2% (λ1 ) and 6.8% (λ3 ) for the infraspinatus. Tractography provided muscle fiber representations in three-dimensional space concordant with RC anatomy. DATA CONCLUSION DTI of the supraspinatus and infraspinatus muscles achieved an adequate SNR, allowing the measurement of the DTI metrics with good repeatability, and thus can be used for optimizing stiffness estimation in these anisotropic tissues. EVIDENCE LEVEL 2 TECHNICAL EFFICACY: Stage 2.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cyril Tous
- Research Center, Centre hospitalier de l'Université de Montréal (CRCHUM) Montreal Quebec Canada
| | - Alexandre Jodoin
- Department of Radiology Centre hospitalier de l'Université de Montréal (CHUM) Montreal Quebec Canada
| | - Detlev Grabs
- Department of Anatomy Université du Québec à Trois‐Rivières Trois‐Rivières Quebec Canada
| | - Elijah Van Houten
- Department of Mechanical Engineering Université de Sherbrooke Sherbrooke Quebec Canada
| | - Nathalie J. Bureau
- Research Center, Centre hospitalier de l'Université de Montréal (CRCHUM) Montreal Quebec Canada
- Department of Radiology Centre hospitalier de l'Université de Montréal (CHUM) Montreal Quebec Canada
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Li Y, Yu J, Zhang J, Zhang Z, Wang X. Quantifying the stiffness of lumbar erector spinae during different positions among participants with chronic low back pain. PLoS One 2022; 17:e0270286. [PMID: 35749429 PMCID: PMC9231815 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0270286] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/11/2022] [Accepted: 06/07/2022] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Objective The purposes of this study were to (1) detect the intra- and inter-reliabilities of the lumbar erector spinae stiffness by MyotonPRO among participants with chronic lower back pain (CLBP); (2) compare the muscle stiffness between pain and non-pain sides during different positions; (3) explore the correlation between intensity of pain and muscle stiffness. Design Twenty participants with CLBP were recruited and the stiffness measurements were carried out by two experienced physiotherapists (operators Ⅰ and Ⅱ). Each participant was evaluated by the operatorⅠ in different postures (static prone and sitting). After a 5-day interval, the same participant was reassessed by the operatorⅠ in the static prone posture. For the inter-rater reliability test, each participant was quantified by both operators once, with 30 minutes between the measurements on the same day. The intensity of pain was evaluated using a 0–10 visual analog scale (VAS). Results The intra- and inter-rater reliabilities were excellent (ICC = 0.88–0.99). The MDC values ranged from 25.03 to 86.26 N/m. Examples of Bland-Altman plots showed good agreement. The erector spinae stiffness on the painful sides was higher with a marked increase in the sitting position (P < .05) when compared with the non-painful side. However, there was no significant difference in the prone position (P > .05). The intensity of pain among adults with CLBP was not associated with muscle stiffness of the lumbar erector spinae muscle. Conclusions Our findings indicated that the MyotonPRO is a feasible device in quantifying the stiffness of the lumbar erector spinae muscle in patients with CLBP. Meanwhile, the erector spinae stiffness on the painful sides was higher in the sitting when compared with the non-painful side.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yapeng Li
- Rehabilitation Therapy Center, Luoyang Orthopedic Hospital of Henan Province, Orthopedic Hospital of Henan Province, Luoyang, China
| | - Jiafeng Yu
- Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, China
| | - Jun Zhang
- Department of Rehabilitation, Institute of Rehabilitation and Health Care, Hunan Traditional Chinese Medical College, Hunan, China
| | - Zhijie Zhang
- Rehabilitation Therapy Center, Luoyang Orthopedic Hospital of Henan Province, Orthopedic Hospital of Henan Province, Luoyang, China
- * E-mail:
| | - Xueqiang Wang
- Department of Sport Rehabilitation, Shanghai University of Sport, Shanghai, China
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Melo ASC, Cruz EB, Vilas-Boas JP, Sousa ASP. Scapular Dynamic Muscular Stiffness Assessed through Myotonometry: A Narrative Review. SENSORS 2022; 22:s22072565. [PMID: 35408180 PMCID: PMC9002787 DOI: 10.3390/s22072565] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/07/2022] [Revised: 03/21/2022] [Accepted: 03/23/2022] [Indexed: 02/04/2023]
Abstract
Several tools have been used to assess muscular stiffness. Myotonometry stands out as an accessible, handheld, and easy to use tool. The purpose of this review was to summarize the psychometric properties and methodological considerations of myotonometry and its applicability in assessing scapular muscles. Myotonometry seems to be a reliable method to assess several muscles stiffness, as trapezius. This method has been demonstrated fair to moderate correlation with passive stiffness measured by shear wave elastography for several muscles, as well as with level of muscle contraction, pinch and muscle strength, Action Research Arm Test score and muscle or subcutaneous thickness. Myotonometry can detect scapular muscles stiffness differences between pre- and post-intervention in painful conditions and, sometimes, between symptomatic and asymptomatic subjects.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ana S. C. Melo
- Center for Rehabilitation Research—Human Movement System (Re)habilitation Area, Department of Physiotherapy, School of Health, Polytechnic of Porto, Rua Dr. António Bernardino de Almeida, 400, 4200-072 Porto, Portugal;
- Research Centre in Physical Activity, Health and Leisure, Faculty of Sport, University of Porto, Rua Dr. Plácido Costa, 91, 4200-450 Porto, Portugal
- Porto Biomechanics Laboratory (LABIOMEP-UP), University of Porto, Rua Dr. Plácido Costa, 91, 4200-450 Porto, Portugal;
- Center for Interdisciplinary Applied Research in Health, School of Health, Setubal Polytechnic Institute, Campus do IPS Estefanilha, 2914-503 Setubal, Portugal
| | - Eduardo B. Cruz
- Department of Physiotherapy, School of Health, Setubal Polytechnic Institute, Campus do IPS Estefanilha, 2914-503 Setubal, Portugal;
- Comprehensive Health Research Center (CHRC), Universidade Nova de Lisboa, 1169-056 Lisboa, Portugal
| | - João Paulo Vilas-Boas
- Porto Biomechanics Laboratory (LABIOMEP-UP), University of Porto, Rua Dr. Plácido Costa, 91, 4200-450 Porto, Portugal;
- Centre of Research, Education, Innovation and Intervention in Sport (CIFI2D), Faculty of Sport, University of Porto, Rua Dr. Plácido Costa, 91, 4200-450 Porto, Portugal
| | - Andreia S. P. Sousa
- Center for Rehabilitation Research—Human Movement System (Re)habilitation Area, Department of Physiotherapy, School of Health, Polytechnic of Porto, Rua Dr. António Bernardino de Almeida, 400, 4200-072 Porto, Portugal;
- Correspondence: or
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Kim J, Ryu JA, Lee J. Quantification of the Elastic Property of Normal Thigh Muscles Using MR Elastography: Our Initial Experience. TAEHAN YONGSANG UIHAKHOE CHI 2021; 82:1556-1564. [PMID: 36238872 PMCID: PMC9431979 DOI: 10.3348/jksr.2020.0133] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/17/2020] [Revised: 12/20/2020] [Accepted: 04/02/2021] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Abstract
Purpose This study aimed to apply MR elastography (MRE) to achieve in vivo evaluation of the elastic properties of thigh muscles and validate the feasibility of quantifying the elasticity of normal thigh muscles using MRE. Materials and Methods This prospective study included 10 volunteer subjects [mean age, 32.5 years, (range, 23-45 years)] who reported normal activities of daily living and underwent both T2-weighted axial images and MRE of thigh muscles on the same day. A sequence with a motion-encoding gradient was used in the MRE to map the propagating shear waves in the muscle. Elastic properties were quantified as the shear modulus of the following four thigh muscles at rest; the vastus medialis, vastus lateralis, adductor magnus, and biceps femoris. Results The mean shear modulus was 0.98 ± 0.32 kPa and 1.00 ± 0.33 kPa for the vastus medialis, 1.10 ± 0.46 kPa and 1.07 ± 0.43 kPa for the vastus lateralis, 0.91 ± 0.41 kPa and 0.93 ± 0.47 kPa for the adductor magnus, and 0.99 ± 0.37 kPa and 0.94 ± 0.32 kPa for the biceps femoris, with reader 1 and 2, respectively. No significant difference was observed in the shear modulus based on sex (p < 0.05). Aging consistently showed a statistically significant negative correlation (p < 0.05) with the shear modulus of the thigh muscles, except for the vastus medialis (p = 0.194 for reader 1 and p = 0.355 for reader 2). Conclusion MRE is a quantitative technique used to measure the elastic properties of individual muscles with excellent inter-observer agreement. Age was consistently significantly negatively correlated with the shear stiffness of muscles, except for the vastus medialis.
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Koga A, Itoigawa Y, Suga M, Morikawa D, Uehara H, Maruyama Y, Kaneko K. Stiffness change of the supraspinatus muscle can be detected by magnetic resonance elastography. Magn Reson Imaging 2021; 80:9-13. [PMID: 33819499 DOI: 10.1016/j.mri.2021.03.018] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/18/2020] [Revised: 03/30/2021] [Accepted: 03/31/2021] [Indexed: 01/27/2023]
Abstract
Magnetic resonance elastography (MRE) and ultrasound shear wave elastography (SWE) are imaging techniques to measure stiffness of the soft tissue using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and ultrasound images, respectively. The purpose of this study was to explore the feasibility of the MRE measurement to evaluate the change in supraspinatus (SSP) muscle stiffness before and after rotator cuff tear, and to compare the result with those of SWE. Six swine shoulders were used. The skin and subcutaneous fat were removed, and the stiffness value of the SSP muscle was measured by MRE and SWE. The MRE measurement was performed with 0.3 T open MRI and the vibration from a pneumatic driver system with active driver to a passive driver to create the shear wave in the tissue. The passive driver was placed on the center of the SSP muscle. The stiffness was estimated from the wave images using local frequency estimation methods. In the SWE measurement, the probe of the ultrasound was placed on the center of the SSP muscle. The shear wave propagation speed was measured at a depth of 1 cm from the surface, and the stiffness was calculated. After those measurements, the rotator cuff tendon was detached from the greater tuberosity, and MRE and SWE measurements were then performed in the same manner again. The differences in the stiffness values were compared between before and after the rotator cuff tendon tear on both the MRE and SWE measurements. The results indicated that stiffness values on MRE and SWE were 9.3 ± 1.8 and 10.0 ± 1.2 kPa respectively before the rotator cuff tear, and 7.3 ± 1.3 and 8.0 ± 0.8 kPa respectively after the tendon detachment. Stiffness values were significantly lower after the tendon detachment on both the MRE and SWE measurements (p < 0.05). Our results demonstrated that stiffness values of the SSP muscle on MRE and SWE were lower after rotator cuff detachment. From this result, MRE may be a feasible method for quantification of the change in rotator cuff muscle stiffness.
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Affiliation(s)
- Akihisa Koga
- Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Juntendo University Urayasu Hospital, Chiba, Japan
| | - Yoshiaki Itoigawa
- Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Juntendo University Urayasu Hospital, Chiba, Japan.
| | - Mikio Suga
- Center for Frontier Medical Engineering, Chiba University, Chiba, Japan
| | - Daichi Morikawa
- Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Juntendo University Urayasu Hospital, Chiba, Japan
| | - Hirohisa Uehara
- Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Juntendo University Urayasu Hospital, Chiba, Japan
| | - Yuichiro Maruyama
- Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Juntendo University Urayasu Hospital, Chiba, Japan
| | - Kazuo Kaneko
- Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Juntendo University, Tokyo, Japan
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Hou Z, Bayly PV, Okamoto RJ. Shear wave speeds in nearly-incompressible fibrous materials with two fiber families. THE JOURNAL OF THE ACOUSTICAL SOCIETY OF AMERICA 2021; 149:1097. [PMID: 33639778 PMCID: PMC7878018 DOI: 10.1121/10.0003528] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/14/2020] [Revised: 01/13/2021] [Accepted: 01/25/2021] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
An analytical and numerical investigation of shear wave behavior in nearly-incompressible soft materials with two fiber families was performed, focusing on the effects of material parameters and imposed pre-deformations on wave speed. This theoretical study is motivated by the emerging ability to image shear waves in soft biological tissues by magnetic resonance elastography (MRE). In MRE, the relationships between wave behavior and mechanical properties can be used to characterize tissue properties non-invasively. We demonstrate these principles in two material models, each with two fiber families. One model is a nearly-incompressible linear elastic model that exhibits both shear and tensile anisotropy; the other is a two-fiber-family version of the widely-used Holzapfel-Gasser-Ogden (HGO) model, which is nonlinear. Shear waves can be used to probe nonlinear material behavior using infinitesimal dynamic deformations superimposed on larger, quasi-static "pre-deformations." In this study, closed-form expressions for shear wave speeds in the HGO model are obtained in terms of the model parameters and imposed pre-deformations. Analytical expressions for wave speeds are confirmed by finite element simulations of shear waves with various polarizations and propagation directions. These studies support the feasibility of estimating the parameters of an HGO material model noninvasively from measured shear wave speeds.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zuoxian Hou
- Department of Mechanical Engineering and Materials Science, Washington University, St. Louis, Missouri 63130, USA
| | - Philip V Bayly
- Department of Mechanical Engineering and Materials Science, Washington University, St. Louis, Missouri 63130, USA
| | - Ruth J Okamoto
- Department of Mechanical Engineering and Materials Science, Washington University, St. Louis, Missouri 63130, USA
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Kim Y, An SY, Park W, Hwang JH. Detection of early changes in the muscle properties of the pectoralis major in breast cancer patients treated with radiotherapy using a handheld myotonometer. Support Care Cancer 2020; 29:2581-2590. [PMID: 32959155 DOI: 10.1007/s00520-020-05751-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/14/2020] [Accepted: 09/08/2020] [Indexed: 10/23/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE The primary aim was to investigate serial changes in the mechanical properties of the pectoralis major (PM), upper trapezius (UT), and sternoclavicular mastoid muscle (SCM) in breast cancer patients undergoing radiotherapy (RT) using a hand-held myotonometer. The secondary aims were to determine changes in subjective symptoms and to identify correlation with subjective results. DESIGN A total of 42 breast cancer patients were enrolled in this longitudinal prospective study. Muscle properties of the PM, UT, and SCM were evaluated before RT, immediately after RT, and 4 months post-RT. Subjective symptom scales of pain and stiffness at rest/stretch of each muscle were evaluated. RESULTS The PM showed significant side-to-side differences; the affected PM showed increased tone, stiffness, and decreased elasticity compared with the unaffected PM. The affected PM and UT showed significant time-dependent interactions. Stiffness of the affected PM at stretching was significantly higher 4 months post-RT than baseline. Only the tone and elasticity of the affected PM were correlated with subjective symptoms. CONCLUSION In breast cancer patients who received RT after surgery, increased tone, stiffness, and decreased elasticity were observed in the affected PM compared with the unaffected side, which sustained four months post-RT. Change in muscle properties immediately after RT preceded subjective stiffness, which worsened significantly 4 months post-RT compared with baseline.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yoon Kim
- Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, National Rehabilitation Center, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - So Yeon An
- Center for Clinical Medicine, Samsung Biomedical Research Institute, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Won Park
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Samsung Medical Center, Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Ji Hye Hwang
- Department of Physical and Rehabilitation Medicine, Samsung Medical Center, Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine, 81 Irwon-ro, Gangnam-gu, Seoul, 06351, Republic of Korea.
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Bilston LE, Bolsterlee B, Nordez A, Sinha S. Contemporary image-based methods for measuring passive mechanical properties of skeletal muscles in vivo. J Appl Physiol (1985) 2019; 126:1454-1464. [PMID: 30236053 DOI: 10.1152/japplphysiol.00672.2018] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Skeletal muscles' primary function in the body is mechanical: to move and stabilize the skeleton. As such, their mechanical behavior is a key aspect of their physiology. Recent developments in medical imaging technology have enabled quantitative studies of passive muscle mechanics, ranging from measurements of intrinsic muscle mechanical properties, such as elasticity and viscosity, to three-dimensional muscle architecture and dynamic muscle deformation and kinematics. In this review we summarize the principles and applications of contemporary imaging methods that have been used to study the passive mechanical behavior of skeletal muscles. Elastography measurements can provide in vivo maps of passive muscle mechanical parameters, and both MRI and ultrasound methods are available (magnetic resonance elastography and ultrasound shear wave elastography, respectively). Both have been shown to differentiate between healthy muscle and muscles affected by a broad range of clinical conditions. Detailed muscle architecture can now be depicted using diffusion tensor imaging, which not only is particularly useful for computational modeling of muscle but also has potential in assessing architectural changes in muscle disorders. More dynamic information about muscle mechanics can be obtained using a range of dynamic MRI methods, which characterize the detailed internal muscle deformations during motion. There are several MRI techniques available (e.g., phase-contrast MRI, displacement-encoded MRI, and "tagged" MRI), each of which can be collected in synchrony with muscle motion and postprocessed to quantify muscle deformation. Together, these modern imaging techniques can characterize muscle motion, deformation, mechanical properties, and architecture, providing complementary insights into skeletal muscle function.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lynne E Bilston
- Neuroscience Research Australia, Randwick, New South Wales , Australia.,Prince of Wales Clinical School, University of New South Wales, Randwick, New South Wales , Australia
| | - Bart Bolsterlee
- Neuroscience Research Australia, Randwick, New South Wales , Australia.,Graduate School of Biomedical Engineering, University of New South Wales , Kensington, New South Wales , Australia
| | - Antoine Nordez
- Health and Rehabilitation Research Institute, Auckland University of Technology , Auckland , New Zealand.,Movement, Interactions, Performance Laboratory (EA 4334), Faculty of Sport Sciences, University of Nantes , Nantes , France
| | - Shantanu Sinha
- Muscle Imaging and Modeling Laboratory, Department of Radiology, University of California , San Diego, California
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Paoletti M, Pichiecchio A, Cotti Piccinelli S, Tasca G, Berardinelli AL, Padovani A, Filosto M. Advances in Quantitative Imaging of Genetic and Acquired Myopathies: Clinical Applications and Perspectives. Front Neurol 2019; 10:78. [PMID: 30804884 PMCID: PMC6378279 DOI: 10.3389/fneur.2019.00078] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/14/2018] [Accepted: 01/21/2019] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
In the last years, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) has become fundamental for the diagnosis and monitoring of myopathies given its ability to show the severity and distribution of pathology, to identify specific patterns of damage distribution and to properly interpret a number of genetic variants. The advances in MR techniques and post-processing software solutions have greatly expanded the potential to assess pathological changes in muscle diseases, and more specifically of myopathies; a number of features can be studied and quantified, ranging from composition, architecture, mechanical properties, perfusion, and function, leading to what is known as quantitative MRI (qMRI). Such techniques can effectively provide a variety of information beyond what can be seen and assessed by conventional MR imaging; their development and application in clinical practice can play an important role in the diagnostic process and in assessing disease course and treatment response. In this review, we briefly discuss the current role of muscle MRI in diagnosing muscle diseases and describe in detail the potential and perspectives of the application of advanced qMRI techniques in this field.
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Affiliation(s)
- Matteo Paoletti
- Neuroradiology Department, IRCCS Mondino Foundation, Pavia, Italy.,Department of Brain and Behavioural Sciences, University of Pavia, Pavia, Italy
| | - Anna Pichiecchio
- Neuroradiology Department, IRCCS Mondino Foundation, Pavia, Italy.,Department of Brain and Behavioural Sciences, University of Pavia, Pavia, Italy
| | - Stefano Cotti Piccinelli
- Unit of Neurology, Center for Neuromuscular Diseases, ASST Spedali Civili and University of Brescia, Brescia, Italy
| | - Giorgio Tasca
- Neurology Department, Dipartimento di Scienze dell'Invecchiamento, Neurologiche, Ortopediche e della Testa-Collo, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario A. Gemelli IRCCS, Rome, Italy
| | | | - Alessandro Padovani
- Unit of Neurology, Center for Neuromuscular Diseases, ASST Spedali Civili and University of Brescia, Brescia, Italy
| | - Massimiliano Filosto
- Unit of Neurology, Center for Neuromuscular Diseases, ASST Spedali Civili and University of Brescia, Brescia, Italy
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Assessing the viscoelastic properties of upper trapezius muscle: Intra- and inter-tester reliability and the effect of shoulder elevation. J Electromyogr Kinesiol 2017; 43:226-229. [PMID: 29103836 DOI: 10.1016/j.jelekin.2017.09.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/21/2017] [Revised: 09/26/2017] [Accepted: 09/26/2017] [Indexed: 01/08/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Increasing stiffness in the upper trapezius muscle may contribute to imbalance of scapular motion, and result in shoulder and neck discomfort during shoulder flexion. Therefore, it is essential to quantify upper trapezius stiffness in various shoulder positions in order to aid in the prevention of these disorders and to optimize rehabilitation. OBJECTIVES The objectives of the present study were to examine the intra and inter-tester reliability of MyotonPRO device in measuring upper trapezius stiffness and its ability to determine changes in stiffness during shoulder flexion. METHODS Twenty healthy male subjects (mean age: 28.3±4.8 years) were studied. The stiffness of upper trapezius was quantified using the MyotonPRO device. RESULTS The results revealed excellent intra and inter-tester reliability for measuring upper trapezius stiffness with the shoulder in a neutral position, and also found a 14.2% increase in stiffness upon shoulder flexion between 0° and 60° of flexion. Minimal detectable change (MDC) was 26.3 N/m. CONCLUSIONS Our findings indicate that MyotonPRO device is a feasible tool to quantify upper trapezius stiffness as well as changes in muscle stiffness. Thus, it is important to assess the changes in upper trapezius muscle stiffness due to pathology or treatments for future studies.
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Low G, Kruse SA, Lomas DJ. General review of magnetic resonance elastography. World J Radiol 2016; 8:59-72. [PMID: 26834944 PMCID: PMC4731349 DOI: 10.4329/wjr.v8.i1.59] [Citation(s) in RCA: 57] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/28/2015] [Revised: 11/14/2015] [Accepted: 12/04/2015] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Magnetic resonance elastography (MRE) is an innovative imaging technique for the non-invasive quantification of the biomechanical properties of soft tissues via the direct visualization of propagating shear waves in vivo using a modified phase-contrast magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) sequence. Fundamentally, MRE employs the same physical property that physicians utilize when performing manual palpation - that healthy and diseased tissues can be differentiated on the basis of widely differing mechanical stiffness. By performing “virtual palpation”, MRE is able to provide information that is beyond the capabilities of conventional morphologic imaging modalities. In an era of increasing adoption of multi-parametric imaging approaches for solving complex problems, MRE can be seamlessly incorporated into a standard MRI examination to provide a rapid, reliable and comprehensive imaging evaluation at a single patient appointment. Originally described by the Mayo Clinic in 1995, the technique represents the most accurate non-invasive method for the detection and staging of liver fibrosis and is currently performed in more than 100 centers worldwide. In this general review, the mechanical properties of soft tissues, principles of MRE, clinical applications of MRE in the liver and beyond, and limitations and future directions of this discipline -are discussed. Selected diagrams and images are provided for illustration.
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