Effects of Duchenne muscular dystrophy on muscle stiffness and response to electrically-induced muscle contraction: A 12-month follow-up.
The present study aimed to assess the ability of muscle stiffness (shear modulus) and response to electrically-induced muscle contraction to detect changes in muscle properties over a 12-month period in children with Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD). Ten children with DMD and nine age-matched healthy male controls participated in two experimental sessions (T0and T+12months) separated by 12.4 ± 0.9 months. Two contractions of the biceps brachii were electrically-induced during which an ultrasound probe was placed over the muscle. The resting shear modulus was measured using elastography from six muscles. Evoked maximal torque was increased at T+12monthsin controls (+11.2 ± 7.6%, P <0.001) but was not modified in children with DMD (P = 0.222). Electromechanical delay (+12.9 ± 11.3%, P <0.001) and its force transmission component (+10.1 ± 21.6%, P = 0.003) were significantly longer at T+12monthsthan T0for children with DMD. The results revealed an increase in muscle stiffness at T+12monthsin children with DMD for tibialis anterior (+75.1 ± 93.5%, P= 0.043), gastrocnemius medialis (+144.8 ± 180.6%, P= 0.050) and triceps brachii (+35.5 ± 32.2%, P= 0.005). This 12-month follow-up study demonstrates that electromechanical delay and elastography may help detect subtle muscle impairments in patients with DMD. These sensitive outcomes may improve the follow-up of innovative therapeutic interventions within the field of DMD.
Laboratory (Movement, Interactions, Performance) (EA 4334), Faculty of Sport Sciences, University of Nantes, France. Electronic address: lilian.lacourpaille@univ-nantes.fr.
Lilian
L
Lacourpaille
Laboratory (Movement, Interactions, Performance) (EA 4334), Faculty of Sport Sciences, University of Nantes, France.
Raphaël
R
Gross
Laboratory (Movement, Interactions, Performance) (EA 4334), Faculty of Sport Sciences, University of Nantes, France.
François
F
Hug
Laboratory (Movement, Interactions, Performance) (EA 4334), Faculty of Sport Sciences, University of Nantes, France.
Arnaud
A
Guével
CHU Nantes, Centre de Référence Maladies Neuromusculaires Nantes-Angers, University of Nantes, Nantes, France.
Yann
Y
Péréon
CHU Nantes, Centre de Référence Maladies Neuromusculaires Nantes-Angers, University of Nantes, Nantes, France.
Armelle
A
Magot
Institute of Myology, GH Pitié-Salpêtrière, Paris, France.
Jean-Yves
JY
Hogrel
Laboratory (Movement, Interactions, Performance) (EA 4334), Faculty of Sport Sciences, University of Nantes, France.
Antoine
A
Nordez
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D002648:Child; D054459:Elasticity Imaging Techniques; D004558:Electric Stimulation; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009119:Muscle Contraction / Q000502:physiology*; D018482:Muscle, Skeletal / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000503:physiopathology*; D020388:Muscular Dystrophy, Duchenne / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000503:physiopathology*; D014463:Ultrasonography; D055815:Young Adult
Elastography; Electromechanical delay; Evoked muscle force; Myopathy; Ultrafast ultrasound