Applicability of segmental bioelectrical impedance analysis for predicting trunk skeletal muscle volume

Abstract

This study aimed to investigate the validity of using segmental bioelectrical impedance (BI) analysis for estimating skeletal muscle volume (MV) in the trunk, defined as the body segment from the acromion process to the greater trochanter. Using a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) method, the trunk MV was determined in 28 men (19 approximately 34 yr), divided into validation (n = 20) and cross-validation (n = 8) groups, and used as a reference (MV(MRI)). For BI measurements of the trunk, the source electrodes were placed at the dorsal surface of the third metacarpal bone of both hands and the dorsal surface of the third metatarsal bone of both feet, and the detector electrodes were placed at the acromion process of both shoulders and the greater trochanter of both femurs. Using this arrangement, the BI values of five parts of the trunk, both sides of the upper region, the middle region, and both sides of the lower region, were obtained and then used to calculate the whole trunk BI value and BI index (BI index(TR)). In the validation group, a simple regression analysis of the relationship between BI index(TR) and MV(MRI) showed a significant correlation between the two variables (r = 0.884, P < 0.05) and produced a prediction equation with a SE of estimation of 1,020.3 cm3 (8.5%). In the validation and cross-validation groups, there were no significant differences between the measured and estimated MV without systematic errors. These findings indicate that the segmental BI analysis employed in the present study can be used to estimate trunk MV.

Application of bioelectrical impedance to sports science

“…The volume of the skeletal muscle obtained using MRI was made into a reasonable standard, and the measurement which deduces skeletal muscle volume simply was examined by using various kinds of anthropometric variables and impedance values or IPI (L 2 /Z) as an independent variable. These results were verified by the Bland and Altman model 42) , and methodical evaluation was performed [43][44][45] . According to previous reports, results from BIA of the limbs and whole body correlated closely with the muscle volume determined by MRI.…”

Measurement and Evaluation of the Bioelectrical Impedance of a Rubber Humanoid Phantom Wrapped with Gel Sheets

“…The difficulty of measuring impedance of various body parts has been argued for many decades [11], [18], [20]- [24]. In previous studies, researchers based impedance indexes on L 2 /Z (L: body segment length; Z: impedance) for every body-segment, i.e., the ratio of the squared segment length to the impedance.…”

“…Considering the aforementioned complexity of electronic specifications and features, the authors have conducted this study with only one phantom and measurement device. The authors selected Physion MD (licensed by Nippon Shooter Inc., Japan) as the equipment used to measure impedance [18], [23], [24], [27]- [29]. The specifications of the Physion MD were as follows: the measurement frequency was 50 kHz, the measurement current was 500 μArms, and the measurement range was 10-1500 Ω.…”

“…In previous foremost examples of such measurements, researchers have used the Physion MD [23], [24], [28] and Red Dot 2330 (3M Health Care / 3M United States, MA), a type of common gel pad, for each electrode. The authors selected electrocardiography electrodes for the placement of 2.2 cm × 2.2 cm of Red Dot 2330 patches, which have a thickness of about 0.5 mm.…”

“…Parts 1, 2, 3, and 4 of the body trunk overlapped due to the different current routes used for measurement. The inventors of the Physion series, including the MD, and the researchers in previous similar studies proposed these partitions [23], [24], [28].…”