title: Quantitative ultrasound of lower leg and foot muscles: feasibility and reference values.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Ultrasound is a non-invasive method to quantitatively measure various muscle parameters. Purpose of this study was to assess the feasibility of ultrasound of lower leg and foot muscles and to obtain reference values for muscle thickness (MT) and echo intensity (EI).
  
  
  METHODS
  Ultrasound measurements of leg and foot muscles were performed in 60 healthy adults. MT and EI were quantitatively determined for the abductor hallucis (AH), extensor digitorum brevis (EDB), extensor hallucis longus (EHL) and peroneus longus (PER) muscles. Influence of age, height, weight and sex was determined using a multiple linear regression analysis.
  
  
  RESULTS
  All muscles except the AH could easily be visualized with ultrasound. EI tended to be increased above 60 years and MT was significantly higher in men compared to women, necessitating age- and sex-dependent reference values.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This study shows that muscle ultrasound is capable of visualizing lower leg and foot muscles and reference values for MT and EI can be obtained. Future research will focus on the use of these reference values to evaluate muscle abnormalities caused by neuromuscular disorders like hereditary motor and sensory neuropathy.
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Sint Maartenskliniek, Nijmegen, The Netherlands. fv.verhulst@gmail.com
authors.forename: F V
authors.initials: FV
authors.lastname: Verhulst
authors.forename: A E E P M
authors.initials: AE
authors.lastname: Leeuwesteijn
authors.forename: J W K
authors.initials: JW
authors.lastname: Louwerens
authors.forename: A C H
authors.initials: AC
authors.lastname: Geurts
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Van Alfen
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Pillen
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D005240:Feasibility Studies; D005260:Female; D005528:Foot / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D006801:Humans; D007866:Leg / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D018482:Muscle, Skeletal / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D012016:Reference Values; D014463:Ultrasonography; D055815:Young Adult