Prediction of changes in long-term care level in stroke survivors using ultrasound measures of skeletal muscle

2020 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 17K18272
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Young Scientists (B)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Research Field: Rehabilitation science/Welfare engineering; Applied health science
• Research Institution: Kansai Medical University (2019-2020); Kobe Gakuin University (2017-2018)
• Principal Investigator: FUKUMOTO Yoshihiro 関西医科大学, リハビリテーション学部, 准教授 (30636121)
• Project Period (FY): 2017-04-01 – 2021-03-31
• Keywords: 超音波 / 脳卒中者 / 筋内脂肪量 / エコー輝度

Outline of Final Research Achievements

We assessed the muscle mass and intramuscular fat of the trunk and lower leg muscles in stroke survivors by measuring muscle thickness and echo intensity using ultrasonography. The results revealed that decrease in muscle mass and increase in intramuscular fat were site-specific, muscle mass of the nonparetic quadriceps femoris in stroke survivors was greater than that in healthy controls, and muscle mass of the paretic quadriceps femoris was associated with physical activity. In addition, a 2-year observation revealed that longitudinal changes in muscle mass and intramuscular fat were also site-specific, and that these changes might not be associated with changes in motor function on the paretic side, disability level, or long-term care level.

Free Research Field

理学療法学

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

簡便な超音波診断装置を用いた本研究によって、脳卒中者における体幹・下肢筋の筋量減少、筋内脂肪増加の特徴やその経時的変化を明らかにすることができた。筋量・筋内脂肪量と運動機能・生活機能や要介護度の進行との関連は得られなかったものの、本研究の結果は、我が国の要介護者の原因として最も多い疾患である脳卒中に対する、筋量減少や筋内脂肪増加の予防のための治療・生活指導方法の考案に寄与すると考えられる。