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

Abstract

Stokes, M. (2014) "Validity of measuring distal vastus medialis muscle using rehabilitative ultrasound imaging versus magnetic resonance imaging". Manual Therapy, 19(3) pp259-263The final, fully proofed and peer-reviewed journal article is available from the publisher online, via the following link: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1356689X14000137 Objective: This study aimed to validate RUSI against MRI for the linear measurements of the distal fibres of vastus medialis muscle in the thigh.Twelve healthy male participants were recruited from a local university population. The distal portion of their right vastus medialis was imaged with the participant in long-sitting, using MRI and RUSI whilst the leg was in extension and neutral hip rotation. Cross sectional area (CSA) and three linear measures were taken from the MRI and compared with the same linear measures from RUSI.Statistical analysis included comparison of MRI and RUSI measures using the paired t-test and correlation using intra-class correlation coefficients (ICC 3,1).Mean differences between the linear measures taken from the MRI and RUSI were -0.5mm to 2.9mm (95% confidence intervals -0.6 to 8.3mm), which were not statistically different (p>0.05) and were highly correlated (ICCs3,1 0.84-0.94). Correlations between the three linear measurements and muscle CSA ranged from r=0.23 to 0.87, the greatest being muscle thickness. Multiplying the linear measures did not improve the correlation of 0.87 found for muscle thickness.Linear measures of vastus medialis depth made using RUSI were shown to be as valid as using MRI.Muscle thickness measures using RUSI could be used within an objective assessment of this muscle.

Lower extremity muscle structure in incomplete spinal cord injury: a comparison between ultrasonography and magnetic resonance imaging

“…These results are in accordance with similar findings comparing ultrasound muscle thickness to MRI CSA in the quadriceps muscles of healthy young adults 12 and patients with patellofemoral pain. 13 This is beneficial for situations where MRI measures cannot be obtained due to a lack of access to a MRI machine, or if the status of a patient is not conducive for undergoing MRI.…”

Anterior thigh composition measured using ultrasound imaging to quantify relative thickness of muscle and non-contractile tissue: a potential biomarker for musculoskeletal health

“…The technique has been shown to be valid when compared with the gold standard of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), e.g. vastus medialis (Worsley et al, 2014), multifidus (Hides et al, 1995), abdominal muscles (Hides et al, 2006), trapezius (O'Sullivan et al, 2009, masseter (Raadsheer et al 1994) and anterior hip muscles (Mendis et al, 2010).…”

Ultrasound imaging for measuring muscle and subcutaneous fat tissue thickness of the anterior thigh: A two-year longitudinal study in middle age

“…Whittaker and Emery have also reported excellent intra‐rater reliability of US for measuring the vastus medialis muscle thickness (ICC values above 0.90). Regarding validity, muscle thickness measurements on US images were not significantly different to those obtained using magnetic resonance imaging, demonstrating criterion validity, for some muscles in the lower‐limbs, including vastus medialis, rectus femoris and vastus intermedius, and anterior hip muscles …”