Assessment of muscle condition based on muscle stiffness measured by ultrasound elastography

2017 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 15K16500
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Young Scientists (B)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Research Field: Sports science
• Research Institution: National Agency for the Advancement of Sports and Health
• Principal Investigator: Chino Kentaro 独立行政法人日本スポーツ振興センター国立スポーツ科学センター, スポーツ研究部, 契約研究員 (30443245)
• Project Period (FY): 2015-04-01 – 2018-03-31
• Keywords: 超音波エラストグラフィ / 筋硬度 / 筋スティフネス / コンディショニング / スポーツ傷害

Outline of Final Research Achievements

Ultrasound elastography is an imaging technique that can non-invasively measure tissue elasticity (tissue stiffness) in vivo. By using ultrasound elastography, this study measured tissue elasticity of skeletal muscle and aponeurosis in humans. We found that 1) muscle thickness of the rectus femoris was greater in athletes than non-athletes, but the muscle elasticity was not clearly different between them, 2) the maximum muscle elasticity of the biceps brachii was not observed on the day or later after the exercise that caused muscle damage, but observed immediately after the exercise, and 3) adequate ultrasound probe and imaging pre-set should be selected when measuring tissue elasticity of the plantar fascia.

Free Research Field

健康・スポーツ科学