The validity of Rehabilitative Ultrasound Imaging for measurement of trapezius muscle thickness

Ultrasound Imaging and Muscle Function

“…and, by the 1990s, investigative teams were using USI to measure the size and other architectural characteristics of various muscles, including the pelvic floor muscles, 3 masseter, 58 and lumbar multifidus. 22,23 As a decrease in muscle size has been linked to various pathologies and impairments, 16,19 the use of the technology has continued to expand to include investigation of muscles such as the supraspinatus and infraspinatus, 35 rectus femoris, 13 biceps brachii, 2 transversus abdominis (TrA) and internal oblique (IO), 20 rectus abdominis, 8 cervical multifidus, 45 trapezius, 56 rectus femoris, sartorius, and iliopsoas. 53 Other aspects of muscle morphology and function that have been explored with USI include composition, 44,61,66 changes in internal architecture (pennation angles), 48,80 force generation, 13 and muscle activity (ie, electrical activity recorded by electromyography [EMG]).…”

“…However, as USI is less expensive and more readily available, many investigators have compared measures taken by the 2 modalities for a number of different muscles to determine the validity of USI for this purpose. 2,35,45,53,56,58 A variety of parameters, ranging from measures of thickness, width, length, and CSA at various anatomical locations, have been considered. Although correlation statistics have reported a range of 0.22 to 0.90, all of the studies reviewed have reported good agreement (greater than 0.80) for at least 1 of the measurement sites investigated and concluded that USI is an accurate method for measuring the muscle parameter of interest.…”

Validity of measuring distal vastus medialis muscle using rehabilitative ultrasound imaging versus magnetic resonance imaging

“…Several studies have reported RUSI as a valid method for measuring the size of muscles when compared to MRI, including; the lumbar multifidus (Hides et al , 1995), cervical multifidus (Lee et al , 2007), abdominals (Hides et al , 2006), trapezius (O'Sullivan et al , 2009), quadriceps (Walton et al , 1997, Reeves, Maganaris, 2004, Thomaes et al , 2012 and anterior hip muscles (Mendis et al , 2010). A systematic review of 13 studies on the validity of using RUSI compared with MRI or computed tomography (CT) concluded that RUSI can provide valid measurements of skeletal muscles (Pretorius and Keating, 2008).…”

The Dose-dependent Effect of an 830-nm, 450-mW Low-Level Laser Therapy on the Myofacial Trigger Point of the Upper Trapezius Muscle: A Randomized, Double-Blinded, Clinical Trial

“…Although high dosages such as 386 J/cm 2 (1 min application) and 771 J/cm 2 (2 min application) were delivered in this study, there were no immediate effects. In addition, because the thickness of the subcutaneous layers and the UP was at least 1 cm 18,19) , the dosage actually received in the painful area may have been diminished to one tenth of the ordinal intensity 14) . However, the higher energy density of 1,929 J/cm 2 (5 min application) produced an immediate effect on PPT.…”