Determination of thigh muscle stiffness using magnetic resonance elastography.
OBJECTIVE
To measure the elastic properties of the vastus lateralis (VL), vastus medialis (VM), and sartorius (Sr) muscles using magnetic resonance elastography (MRE).


METHODS
To obtain a normative database of the aforementioned muscles, oblique scan directions were prescribed passing through each muscle. Shear waves were induced into the muscles using pneumatic and mechanical drivers at 90 and 120 Hz, respectively. These drivers were attached to the distal end of the right thigh with the knee flexed at 30 degrees . The foot was placed in a footplate containing MR-compatible load cells to record the force during a contraction (10% and 20% of the maximum voluntary contraction).


RESULTS
The shear moduli measured at rest in the VL (N = 12), VM (N = 14), and Sr (N = 13) were 3.73 +/- 0.85 kPa, 3.91 +/- 1.15 kPa, and 7.53 +/- 1.63 kPa, respectively. The stiffness of both vasti increased with the level of contraction, while the stiffness of the Sr remained the same.


CONCLUSIONS
The MRE technique was able to approximate the stiffness of different thigh muscles. Furthermore, the wave length was sensitive to the morphology (unipennate or longitudinal) and fiber composition (type I or II) in each muscle.
Bensamoun
Sabine F
SF
Biomechanics Laboratory, Division of Orthopedic Research, Mayo Clinic College of Medicine, Rochester, Minnesota 55905, USA.
Ringleb
Stacie I
SI
Littrell
Laurel
L
Chen
Qingshan
Q
Brennan
Michael
M
Ehman
Richard L
RL
An
Kai-Nan
KN
D000328:Adult; D015331:Cohort Studies; D004548:Elasticity; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007091:Image Processing, Computer-Assisted; D007537:Isometric Contraction / Q000502:physiology*; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000379:methods*; D008297:Male; D018482:Muscle, Skeletal / Q000033:anatomy & histology* / Q000502:physiology; D012016:Reference Values; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D013848:Thigh