A Novel Application of Musculoskeletal Ultrasound Imaging
Date
2013-09
Authors
Eranki, Avinash
Cortes, Nelson
Ferenček3, Zrinka Gregurić
Siddhartha, Sikdar
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Journal of Visualized Experiments
Abstract
Ultrasound is an attractive modality for imaging muscle and tendon motion during dynamic tasks and can provide a complementary methodological approach for biomechanical studies in a clinical or laboratory setting. Towards this goal, methods for quantification of muscle kinematics from ultrasound imagery are being developed based on image processing. The temporal resolution of these methods is typically not sufficient for highly dynamic tasks, such as drop-landing. We propose a new approach that utilizes a Doppler method for quantifying muscle kinematics. We have developed a novel vector tissue Doppler imaging (vTDI) technique that can be used to measure musculoskeletal contraction velocity, strain and strain rate with sub-millisecond temporal resolution during dynamic activities using ultrasound. The goal of this preliminary study was to investigate the repeatability and potential applicability of the vTDI technique in measuring musculoskeletal velocities during a drop-landing task, in healthy subjects. The vTDI measurements can be performed concurrently with other biomechanical techniques, such as 3D motion capture for joint kinematics and kinetics, electromyography for timing of muscle activation and force plates for ground reaction force. Integration of these complementary techniques could lead to a better understanding of dynamic muscle function and dysfunction underlying the pathogenesis and pathophysiology of musculoskeletal disorders.
Description
Keywords
Anatomy, Physiology, Joint diseases, Diagnostic Imaging, Muscle contraction, Ultrasonic applications, Doppler effect (acoustics), Musculoskeletal system, Biomechanics, Musculoskeletal kinematic
Citation
Eranki, A., Cortes, N., Ferenček, Z. G., Sikdar, S. A Novel Application of Musculoskeletal Ultrasound Imaging. J. Vis. Exp. (79), e50595, doi:10.3791/50595 (2013).