The Relationship of Ultrasound Measurements of Muscle Deformation With Torque and Electromyography During Isometric Contractions of the Cervical Extensor MusclesShow others and affiliations
2020 (English)In: Journal of Manipulative and Physiological Therapeutics, ISSN 0161-4754, E-ISSN 1532-6586, Vol. 43, no 4, p. 284-293Article in journal (Refereed) Published
Abstract [en]
Objectives: Speckle tracking analysis (STA) of ultrasound (US) images quantifies the longitudinal deformation of a region of muscle tissue to provide a mechanical measure of muscle activity. As the validity and reliability of this method has not yet been adequately assessed, the aim of this study was to determine the validity and reliability of STA in the dorsal neck muscles during isometric neck extension contractions. Methods: Twenty volunteers performed 3 repetitions of isometric neck extension in a dynamometer at 10%, 20%, 40%, 60%, and 80% of maximal voluntary torque while US and surface electromyography (EMG) data were recorded. Speckle tracking analysis was then used to calculate measurements of muscle deformation. The relationship among torque, muscle deformation (separate for each muscle and summed), and EMG was evaluated using linear regressions and Spearmans correlation coefficients. The reliability of EMG and muscle deformation was determined using intraclass correlation coefficients (ICCs). Results: Muscle deformation in 4 of the 5 muscles when examined separately and collectively was significantly related to torque (P < .05); however, the relationship was weak (r(2) = 0.03-0.18). In contrast, a strong linear relationship was observed between torque and EMG (P < .001, r(2) = 0.83). Poor to moderate reliability of muscle deformation measures (ICC: 0.02-0.69) was found compared with EMG, which was highly reliable (ICC: 0.67-0.90). Conclusion: These results suggest that the validity of US STA measurements for isometric contractions of the dorsal neck muscles is questionable. Further investigation into this method is required before it can be used as a tool to measure muscle activity.
Place, publisher, year, edition, pages
MOSBY-ELSEVIER , 2020. Vol. 43, no 4, p. 284-293
Keywords [en]
Reproducibility of Results
National Category
Sport and Fitness Sciences
Identifiers
URN: urn:nbn:se:liu:diva-170928DOI: 10.1016/j.jmpt.2018.11.033ISI: 000575246000003PubMedID: 32951686OAI: oai:DiVA.org:liu-170928DiVA, id: diva2:1485176
Note
Funding Agencies|Health Practitioner Research Fellowship (Queensland Health); University of Queensland (National Health and Medical Research Council [NHMRC] National Health and Medical Research Council Spinal Pain, Injury and Health); NHMRC fellowshipNational Health and Medical Research Council of Australia; Swedish Medical Research CouncilSwedish Medical Research Council (SMRC); Wenner-Gren foundations; NHMRC Career Development FellowshipNational Health and Medical Research Council of Australia
2020-11-012020-11-012020-11-01