title: Ultrasound elastography-based assessment of the elasticity of the supraspinatus muscle and tendon during muscle contraction.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Although elasticity of the supraspinatus muscle and tendon is a useful parameter to represent the conditions of the supraspinatus muscle and tendon, assessment of the elasticity in clinical settings has not been established. The purpose of this study was to determine the elasticity of the supraspinatus muscle belly and tendon under different muscle contraction conditions using ultrasound real-time tissue elastography (RTE).
  
  
  METHODS
  Twenty-three healthy individuals participated in this study. Ultrasound RTE was used for elasticity measurements of the muscle belly and tendon of the supraspinatus muscle. The elasticity was defined as the ratio of strain in the tissues to that in an acoustic coupler (reference). A greater ratio indicated that the tissue was softer. Measurements were performed with study subjects in the lateral decubitus position at 10° of shoulder abduction under conditions of (1) no contraction, (2) isometric contraction without a weight, and (3) isometric contraction with a 1-kg weight.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC1,3) of 3 measurements under each condition ranged from 0.931 to 0.998, showing high intraobserver reliability. Strain ratios for both the supraspinatus muscle belly and tendon significantly decreased with increases in muscle contraction (P < .001).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Ultrasound RTE with the acoustic coupler has the potential to noninvasively detect changes in the elasticity of the supraspinatus muscle belly and tendon that accompany varying levels of muscle contraction in clinical practice.
authors.affiliation: Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Tohoku University Graduate School of Medicine, Sendai, Japan. Electronic address: takayukimurakipt@yahoo.co.jp.
authors.forename: Takayuki
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Muraki
authors.affiliation: Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Tohoku University Graduate School of Medicine, Sendai, Japan.
authors.forename: Hiroaki
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Ishikawa
authors.affiliation: Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Tohoku University Graduate School of Medicine, Sendai, Japan.
authors.forename: Shuhei
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Morise
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Tohoku University School of Medicine, Sendai, Japan.
authors.forename: Nobuyuki
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Yamamoto
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Tohoku University School of Medicine, Sendai, Japan.
authors.forename: Hirotaka
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Sano
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Tohoku University School of Medicine, Sendai, Japan.
authors.forename: Eiji
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Itoi
authors.affiliation: Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Tohoku University Graduate School of Medicine, Sendai, Japan.
authors.forename: Shin-ichi
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Izumi
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D004548:Elasticity; D054459:Elasticity Imaging Techniques; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009119:Muscle Contraction / Q000502:physiology*; D018482:Muscle, Skeletal / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000502:physiology*; D017006:Rotator Cuff / Q000502:physiology*; D012782:Shoulder; D013710:Tendons / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000502:physiology*; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Rotator cuff; elasticity; muscle contraction; shoulder; strain; supraspinatus muscle; ultrasound elastography