Homogeneity and reproducibility of in vivo fascicle length and pennation determined by ultrasonography in human vastus lateralis muscle

Reliability and validity of ultrasound measurements of muscle fascicle length and pennation in humans: a systematic review

“…The reliability of measurements of muscle fascicle lengths was moderate to very high (CMC ϭ 0.89 -0.95, ICC ϭ 0.62-0.99, r ϭ 0.74 -0.96, CV ϭ 0.0 -9.8%, 13.5% for pennation angle) were reported by two studies, which measured muscle fascicle lengths and pennation angles between ultrasound sessions performed a few weeks apart (42,56). One of the studies also carried out repeated measurement of fascicle lengths and pennation angles in muscles imaged in a contracted state (42). Another study had also reported a low reliability estimate (SEM of 19 mm) for muscle fascicle length; however, the ICCs for muscle fascicle length reported in the study were considered high (ICC ϭ 0.76 -0.86) (6).…”

“…Reliability estimates obtained from muscles imaged in a relaxed state were generally high to very high for fascicle lengths, and moderate to very high for pennation angles (relaxed fascicle lengths: ICC ϭ 0.74-0.99, r ϭ 0.96, CV ϭ 0.0-6.8%, SEM ϭ 0 -19 mm, and SEM% ϭ 8.5-10.9%; relaxed pennation angles: ICC ϭ 0.62-1.00, r ϭ 0.87-0.95, CV ϭ 0.0 -8.5%, SEM ϭ 0.1-1.2°, and SEM% ϭ 5.0 -10.2%) (2, 6 -8, 14, 18, 21, 28, 36, 41-43, 46, 47, 49, 53, 54, 60). For muscles imaged in a contracted state, reliability estimates for muscle fascicle lengths and pennation angles were moderate to very high (contracted fascicle lengths: CMC ϭ 0.89 -0.95, ICC ϭ 0.62-0.99, CV ϭ 0.0 -8.3%, SEM ϭ 1-17 mm, and SEM% ϭ 4.3-14.2%; contracted pennation angles: CMC ϭ 0.84 -0.90, ICC ϭ 0.51-1.00, CV ϭ 0.0 -8.3%, SEM ϭ 0.9 -1.2°, and SEM% ϭ 5.1-10.9%) (1,11,18,21,31,34,41,42,57).…”

Muscle fibre length-to-moment arm ratios in the human lower limb determined in vivo

“…For the GM, GL and SOL muscle scanning, the knee joint was fully extended and the ankle joint was externally secured at the anatomically neutral position (the sole of the foot at right angles to the longitudinal axis of the lower leg), while the participant's body was placed in the prone position on the test bench. The architecture of the GM, GL, SOL and VL muscles is homogeneous along their belly lengths (Narici et al, 1996;Maganaris et al, 1998a;Mairet et al, 2004); hence, L values were obtained from measurements in the central region only in each muscle. For the VI muscle, ultrasound scans were initially taken at 25, 50 and 75% of femoral length, measured externally as the distance between the greater trochanter and the lateral condyle of the femur, to examine whether L is also homogenous along this muscle's belly.…”

Reproducibility of gastrocnemius medialis muscle architecture during treadmill running

“…Existing knowledge regarding the reproducibility of ultrasound measurements is limited to rest and in isometric contractions (Fukunaga et al, 1997;Mian et al, 2007;Kawakami et al, 1998;Kurokawa et al, 2001Kurokawa et al, , 2003Mairet et al, 2006;Narici et al, 1996). To our knowledge there is only one study (Aggeloussis et al, 2010) regarding the reproducibility of gastrocnemius medialis fascicle length and pennation angle during walking.…”