Ultrasound imaging as a diagnostic tool to assess the functional status of muscles following a spinal cord injury

Miller, J., Gollee, H. and Purcell, M. (2021) Ultrasound imaging as a diagnostic tool to assess the functional status of muscles following a spinal cord injury. Ultrasound in Medicine and Biology, 47(3), pp. 386-397. (doi: 10.1016/j.ultrasmedbio.2020.10.008) (PMID:33309040)

Abstract

The aim of this study was to evaluate the use of ultrasound imaging (USI) as a diagnostic tool to assess muscle function after a spinal cord injury (SCI). Ultrasound videos of the gastrocnemius medialis muscle were recorded both at rest and during attempted maximum voluntary contraction (MVC) for fifteen participants with a SCI and fifteen able-bodied controls. Measurements were repeated at monthly intervals for participants in the SCI group during their inpatient stay. Differences in muscle echogenicity and thickness were detected between both able-bodied and SCI groups and subgroups of SCI participants, suggesting USI can detect and monitor changes in muscle structure which are characteristic of atrophy. Decreased muscle movement in the SCI groups was also detected during attempted MVC. The ability of USI to distinguish between different levels of function demonstrates the potential of USI as a quantitative tool to assess muscles.

• Item Type: Articles
• Status: Published
• Refereed: Yes
• Glasgow Author(s) Enlighten ID: Miller, Dr Jennifer and Gollee, Dr Henrik and Purcell, Mariel
• Authors: Miller, J., Gollee, H., and Purcell, M.
• College/School: College of Science and Engineering > School of Engineering > Biomedical Engineering
• Journal Name: Ultrasound in Medicine and Biology
• Publisher: Elsevier
• ISSN: 0301-5629
• ISSN (Online): 1879-291X
• Published Online: 10 December 2020
• Copyright Holders: Copyright © 2020 The Authors
• First Published: First published in Ultrasound in Medicine and Biology 47(3): 386-397
• Publisher Policy: Reproduced under a Creative Commons licence

Project Code	Award No	Project Name	Principal Investigator	Funder's Name	Funder Ref	Lead Dept
190906		EPSRC 2015 DTP	Mary Beth Kneafsey	Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC)	EP/M508056/1	Research and Innovation Services