The Relationship Between Quadriceps Femoris Muscle Function and MRI‐Derived Water Diffusion and Adipose Tissue Measurements in Young Healthy Males

Abstract

Background Water diffusion and adipose tissue in a muscle can be evaluated by MRI. However, determining which quadriceps femoris muscle (QM) characteristics independently predict peak knee extension torque during maximum voluntary isometric contractions (MVICs), individual muscle activity during MVICs and sit‐to‐stand transitions is unknown. Purpose To determine which QM characteristics predict knee extension muscle strength and individual muscle activity. Study Type Prospective, cross‐sectional. Subjects A total of 20 healthy males (aged 22–40 years) with a physical activity level <1 hour/week. Field Strength/Sequence 1.5‐T, diffusion‐weighted fast spin–echo echo‐planar imaging and T1‐weighted fast spin–echo sequences. Assessment The vastus medialis (VM), vastus lateralis (VL), rectus femoris (RF), and vastus intermedius were segmented in a single axial diffusion‐weighted image and T1‐weighted image at the right mid‐thigh region. λ1–3 and fractional anisotropy (FA), and the percentage of intramuscular adipose tissue (IMAT) were measured. The knee extension peak force during MVICs was measured by a dynamometer, and the torque was calculated at the peak force × length. The ratios of the individual muscle activity to the total muscle (VM, VL, and RF) during MVICs and sit‐to‐stand transitions were assessed using surface electromyography. Statistical Tests Regression analysis was conducted to identify the predictors of peak knee extension torque and of individual muscle activity ratios. A P value < 0.05 was considered statistically significant. Results The RF λ1 significantly predicted the peak knee extension torque (β = −0.51). The IMAT percentage of the VM significantly predicted the VM muscle activity ratio during the MVIC and sit‐to‐stand transition (β = −0.82 and β = −0.61, respectively), whereas the ratio of the VM λ1 to the whole QM λ1 significantly predicted the VM muscle activity ratio during the sit‐to‐stand transitions (β = 0.35 and β = 0.46, respectively). Data Conclusion The RF λ1 may allow to estimate peak knee extension muscle torque, and the VM IMAT and λ1 may predict muscle activity in youth. Evidence Level 3. Technical Efficacy Stage 3.

Editorial for “The Relationship Between Quadriceps Femoris Muscle Function and MRI‐Derived Water Diffusion and Adipose Tissue Measurements in Young Healthy Males”

“…In this issue of JMRI, a study by Yamauchi and colleagues investigated 20 healthy males (aged 22-40 years) with a physical activity level <1 hour/week, to determine which quadriceps femoris muscle (QM) characteristics predict knee extension muscle strength and individual muscle activity. 9 This study demonstrated that a lower RF λ1 value, rather than total muscle activity, predicted greater peak knee extension torque. Moreover, the VM muscle activity ratio during knee extension MVIC and sit-to-stand transition decreased as the VM MAT percentage increased, whereas higher VM: QM λ1 ratio exhibited higher VM muscle activity ratio during sit-to-stand transitions.…”

“…In this issue of JMRI , a study by Yamauchi and colleagues investigated 20 healthy males (aged 22–40 years) with a physical activity level <1 hour/week, to determine which quadriceps femoris muscle (QM) characteristics predict knee extension muscle strength and individual muscle activity 9 . This study demonstrated that a lower RF λ1 value, rather than total muscle activity, predicted greater peak knee extension torque.…”

Diffusion tensor imaging of horizontal extraocular muscles in patients with concomitant and paralytic esotropia

“…Takao et al [23] found a positive correlation of the soleus muscle in the non-contraction state between the maximum power and the AD, λ2, and MD. However, The study of Yamauchi et al [24] showed that a lower rectus femoris AD value predicted greater peak knee extension torque, which may lead to the fact that the rectus femoris is a biarticular muscle and includes the highest proportion of fast fiber type. AD was also found associated with fiber size, edema, and fibrosis [14] .…”

Magnetic resonance imaging techniques for the quantitative analysis of skeletal muscle: State of the art

“…Examples in addition to myopathies discussed above are changes in muscle diffusivity associated with denervation [ 94 ], metabolic disease [ 95 , 96 ] muscle fiber tears [ 97 , 98 ], and differences in muscle diffusivity between osteoporotic and osteoarthritic subjects [ 99 ]. Another interesting field is the relation between muscle properties and external muscle strength that has important implications for optimizing training effects in athletes and for exercise or pharmaceutical interventions in sarcopenia and frailty [ [100] , [101] , [102] , [103] , [104] , [105] , [106] ].…”