Skip to main content
  • Research article
  • Open access
  • Published:

Assessment of peripheral muscle thickness and architecture in healthy volunteers using hand-held ultrasound devices; a comparison study with standard ultrasound

Abstract

Background

Pocket-sized ultrasound devices are increasingly used in a variety of clinical situations, and perform well against standard ultrasound machines. We sought to investigate if a pocket-sized ultrasound device can assess muscle thickness and architecture in healthy volunteers.

Methods

Healthy male volunteers (n = 21) across a range of ages were recruited to the study. Laying supine, ultrasound images were taken from the right anterior and lateral thigh. Thickness of the rectus femoris (RFMT), vastus intermedius (VIMT), and the two combined (anterior thigh, AMT) were measured, along with thickness of vastus lateralis (VLMT), pennation angle (VLPA) and derived fascicle length (VLFL). These scans were performed initially using a pocket-sized ultrasound (VScan) and then using a standard device (Telemed Echoblaster 128).

Results

In all six variables, there was no significant difference between the two sets of measurements. Intra-class correlation co-efficients (ICC) for VLMT, VLPA, and AMT were all excellent (0.93, 0.89, 0.90 respectively) with the derived value of VLFL having an ICC of 0.84. All ICC values were statistically significant. Regression analysis demonstrated no evidence of proportional bias in any of the measured or derived variables.

Conclusion

A pocket-sized ultrasound device gives similar measurements of lower limb muscle thickness and architecture as a standard device in healthy volunteers.

Peer Review reports

Background

Pocket-sized ultrasound devices are becoming increasingly common in the clinical setting. The devices are being used in the qualitative assessment of patients, allowing rapid assessment and diagnosis of abdominal [1], aortic [2] and gynaecological [3] pathologies. They have also been shown to be valuable in the assessment of intra-abdominal free fluid in patients with traumatic injuries [4]. Quantitatively, pocket-sized devices have been validated for obstetric measurements [5] and in the estimation of optic nerve sheath diameter [6]. These studies have used the pocket sized Vscan device (GE Healthcare, United States), although other pocket sized devices are described in the literature, such as the Acuson P10 system (Siemens, United States) for use in the assessment of ascites [7].

The use of ultrasound to assess muscle thickness and architecture is well documented across a number of patient populations. For example, ultrasound is used in the critically ill to assess changes in muscle thickness as a result of atrophy [8], and loss of quadriceps muscle has been of interest in patients with respiratory [9], endocrine [10] and renal [11] diseases. In healthy volunteer studies, assessment of muscle architecture with ultrasound has been used to link muscle structure with function [12]. Furthermore, ultrasound systems have been used in sports science to detect fat content within muscle [13], and to estimate depth of subcutaneous fat layers [14].

A recent systematic review concluded that pocket-sized devices produce images that can be used to answer distinct clinical questions, and provide good agreement with high-end devices [15]. The ability to use a pocket-sized device to track changes in muscle size in many patient populations could make muscle assessment easier and cheaper compared to a larger, more expensive device. Similarly, accurate measurement with a pocket-sized device may be of benefit in studies of healthy volunteers. We aim to assess whether a pocket-sized device will accurately measure muscle thickness and architecture in the anterior and lateral thigh, in healthy male volunteers, compared to a standard ultrasound machine.

Methods

Ethical approval for this study was granted from the University of Liverpool’s central ethics committee. The study was conducted in the gait laboratory within the University’s Institute of Aging and Chronic Disease over a 4 month period, from September to December 2018. This study was performed when participants attended to take part in other studies that involved ultrasound measurements of the thigh muscles. Participants were recruited for these studies through e-mail communications and advertising posters positioned across university notice boards. All recruited participants signed a consent form, having read a participant information sheet and following a verbal briefing from the authors.

Eligibility criteria

We recruited male participants between the ages of 18 to 70 years old, of any level of physical fitness, and with no significant past medical history. Exclusion criteria were participants outside of the specified age range, a body mass index of greater than 40 kg/m2, any history of neuromuscular disorder, previous orthopaedic surgery to either lower limb or recent muscular injury.

Ultrasound protocol

Participants lay supine on a physiotherapy couch in the anatomical position, with the head supported on one pillow [16]. The right lower limb was used for ultrasound assessment in all participants. Using a marker pen, the placement of the probe for the two anatomical sites of interest was marked; rectus femoris was marked at a point two-thirds of the distance between the anterior-superior iliac spine and the superior tip of the patella on the anterior aspect of the thigh [17] and vastus lateralis was marked at point half-way between the greater trochanter and the popliteal crease [18].

Ultrasound scanning was performed by the same assessor using both probes. The examiner has experience in using ultrasound to assess both muscle thickness and architecture in critically ill patients [19], and has used both devices in a number of heathy volunteer studies. Rectus femoris and vastus lateralis were first imaged using the VScan pocket-sized ultrasound with dual probe (GE Healthcare, United States). The linear probe provides for a 2.9 cm aperture, and works across a frequency range of 3.4 to 8.0 MHz.

For rectus femoris imaging, the depth of imaging was adjusted until the femur was visualised, and the rectus femoris could be seen superior to vastus intermedius. The probe was placed perpendicular to the long axis of the femoral shaft. For vastus lateralis visualisation, the probe was placed parallel to the long axis of the femoral shaft, and the depth of imaging was adjusted until the deep aponeurosis of the vastus lateralis, and the vastus intermedius inferior to it, could be visualised. The probe was tilted to ensure maximal distance between the superficial and deep aponeuroses, and to ensure good visualisation of the fascicles within the muscle body.

A large amount of water-based gel was used, and minimal pressure was placed on the probe to prevent compression of muscle. At each site, three images were taken. The process was then repeated using the linear probe from the Telemed EchoBlaster 128 Ultrasound device (Telemed, Lithuania), which has been used in a number of previous studies to assess peripheral and diaphragm muscle thickness and architecture [20] [21] [22]. A 39 mm linear probe was used at a frequency of 10 MHz.

Measurements

Images were saved and transferred to a computer, for analysis using ImageJ (NIH, United States) software. Before measurement of the muscle, the measuring scale on each image was itself measured in pixels. The number of pixels on the measuring scale was divided by the length of the scale (in cm) to give the number of pixels per centimetre for that image.

For rectus femoris assessment, three measurements were taken. First, rectus femoris muscle thickness (RFMT) was measured as the distance between the inner border of the muscular fascia, down to the hyperechoic interface superior to vastus intermedius. Second, vastus intermedius muscle thickness (VIMT) was measured as the distance from the point most inferior to the hyperechoic interface to the bony surface of the femur. A third combined measurement of anterior thigh muscle thickness (AMT) was measured from the inner border of rectus femoris muscular fascia, down to the bony surface of the femur ( [23], Fig. 1, panels 3 and 4).

Fig. 1
figure 1

Representative ultrasound scans of the anterior thigh from the Telemed and Vscan systems (panels 1 and 2 respectively) and vastus lateralis (panels 3 and 4 respectively)

Legend: AMT: anterior thigh muscle thickness, RFMT: rectus femoris muscle thickness, VIMT: vastest intermedius muscle thickness, VLMT: vastus lateralis muscle thicknes, PA: pennation angle.

For vastus lateralis assessment, two measurements were taken, and a third measurement derived from these two measurements. Muscle thickness (VLMT) was measured at the widest point between the superficial and deep aponeuroses. Pennation angle (VLPA) was measured using the angle-tool, drawing a line connecting the fascicle to the deep aponeurosis, with the angle between this line and the aponeurosis being measured (Fig. 1, panels 3 and 4). Again, this angle was measured at the widest point between the two aponeuroses. Fascicle length (VLFL) was then derived from these two measurements. Assuming that the deep aponeurosis runs at a right angle to the measured line of muscle thickness, the fascicle was treated as the hypotenuse of a right-angled triangle, and calculated from the following formula:

$$ VLFL=\mathrm{s} in\ (VLPA)\ x\ VLMT $$
(10)

The average measurement from the three images was calculated. Image acquisition and subsequent measurement was performed by one trained investigator using both devices, with the measurement of AMT and VLMT being performed again by a second person in a sample of 11 volunteers, in order to assess the inter-rater agreement.

Statistical analysis

Comparison of these six measurements was made between the two ultrasound machines by first calculating the difference between the two systems for each measurement, and performing a one-sample t-test for the difference between each system. Intra-class correlation co-efficients (ICC) were calculated, based on a two-way mixed model for absolute agreement between the two systems. For each pair of measurements, the mean measurement was also calculated, to allow creation of Bland-Altman plots with 95% limits of agreement. To detect proportional bias, linear regression was performed, with the mean score between the two systems as the independent variable, and difference between the two systems as the dependent variable.

Statistical testing was performed using SPSS (version 23.0, IBM, United States). In all cases, a p-value of less than 0.05 was considered statistically significant except in the case of proportional bias testing, where a p-value of greater than 0.05 was taken to mean that there was no proportional bias.

Results

Sample size and demographics

Twenty-one participants were recruited to this study, and a full set of measurements for each participant was obtained. Demographic data is displayed in Table 1.

Table 1 Participant demographics

Validity

Images from eleven participants were double measured by the same person for anterior thigh and vastus lateralis mucle thickness from both ultrasound systems. These measurements were conducted 1 week apart, with an intra-class coefficient (ICC) for consistency of 0.990 and 0.999 (anterior thigh, Telemed and V-scan respectively) and 0.996 and 0.993 (vastus lateralis, Telemed and V-scan respectively). Images from the same 11 participants were then measured by a second blinded observer, giving ICC values for absolute agreement of 0.991 and 0.994 (anterior thigh, Telemed and V-scan respectively), and 0.985 and 0.991 (vastus lateralis, Telemed and V-scan respectively). In all cases, ICC values were significant, with p < 0.001.

Mean differences and intra-class coefficients (ICC)

Intra-class coefficients for the 5 directly measured variables, and the one derived variable, are presented in Table 2. For all 6 variables, the ICC was greater than 0.75, and was statistically significant. The mean differences between the two systems for each measurement were not statistically significant. Bland-Altman plots for all six variables are presented in Fig. 2.

Table 2 Mean differences between the two systems and the level of agreement
Fig. 2
figure 2

Bland Altman plots for the measured variables. Legend: Green line: mean difference, red lines: 95% limits of agreement, black dots: measurements within the limits of agreement, red dots: measurements outside of the limits of agreement

Where VLMT = vastus lateralis muscle thickness, VLPA = vastus lateralis pennation angle, VLFL = vastus lateralis fascicle length (derived from VLMT and VLPA), AMT = anterior thigh muscle thickness, RFMT = rectus femoris muscle thickness and VIMT = vastus intermedius muscle thickness.

Proportional bias testing

To assess for proportional bias, linear regression was performed. For each pair of measurements, the mean was calculated by summing the two measurements together and dividing by two, and the difference between the two found by subtracting the measurement with the Vscan system from the measurement with the Telemed system. A regression calculation, with mean measurement as the independent variable and difference as the dependent variable, was calculated. Across all six variables, there was no evidence of proportional bias (see Table 3).

Table 3 Regression coefficients for each variable

Discussion

This study demonstrates that a pocket-sized ultrasound system can be used in healthy volunteers to give accurate assessment of muscle thickness in both the vastus lateralis and the anterior compartment of the quadriceps, compared to a standard ultrasound system. Further, the pocket-sized system can image muscle fascicles to a satisfactory resolution in comparison to a standard system. When fascicle length is determined using trigonometric methods, the resulting length is also comparable to the estimations of fascicle length obtained from the standard device. The lack of proportional bias indicates that this accuracy is maintained across the range of obtained measurements. To our knowledge, this is the first time a pocket-sized device has been used to assess limb muscle architecture, although a different smartphone based pocket-sized ultrasound device has been used successfully in the assessment of the hyomental muscle [24]. The Vscan device used in our study has also been assessed as suitable in the diagnosis of musculoskeletal pathology of the shoulder [25].

The Vscan has been has used in a previous study to assess its accuracy in the measurement of diaphragm thickness at both tidal and maximal end points of respiration [26]. The authors found that measurements of muscle thickness at both inspiration and expiration gave ICC values of greater than 0.9, at both tidal and maximal volumes. They did however find that the system could not accurately assess maximal diaphragm movement, although this is ordinarily measured in M-mode [27], which the Vscan does not possess.

The techniques for assessment of peripheral muscle size and architecture using ultrasound are well established in both healthy volunteers [28] and certain patient populations, with muscle parameters relating to functional outcomes [29]. Muscle architecture specifically describes the arrangement of fascicles within a muscle, with the angle that a fascicle inserts into the deep aponeurosis being known as the pennation angle; this angle is important as it is positively related to force generation, with larger angles being able to pack more muscle into a particular volume [30]. The length of the fascicle spanning between the two aponeuroses indicates the maximal shortening velocity of a muscle [31]. It can be measured directly [32] or estimated using trigonometry if the muscle thickness and pennation angle are known [33]. Rectus femoris cross-sectional area and thickness, vastus intermedius thickness and vastus lateralis thickness have all been shown to significantly correlate with functional measures in patients with critical illness [34], and in healthy volunteers [35], in particular the thickness of vastus intermedius [36].

Our study is limited by the Vscan probe being unable to image the entire cross sectional area of the rectus femoris, possibly due the size of the probe. Although measurement of muscle thickness of the anterior compartment of the thigh is a well-established technique, at present we cannot extrapolate these results to patient populations. For example, in critically ill patients, comparison between thickness and cross sectional area has shown that thickness underestimates loss of muscle by around 8% [37]. Another study has shown that both quadriceps thickness and rectus femoris cross-sectional area decrease significantly in sepsis, but thickness decreases to a lesser degree and does not correlate with volitional measures of strength [38]. Furthermore, the effect of tissue oedema and changes in muscle echogenicity could not be examined in this study of volunteers, and is another limitation in trying to apply these results to any patient population.

Although the absolute agreement across the 6 variables was high, there were reduced ICC values for the measurement of the rectus femoris and vastus intermedius muscles. A possible explanation could be the position and appearance of the hyperechoic interface between the two muscles: themuscular fascia of the rectus femoris is superficial and easily identifiable, as is the echobright tip of the femur, making measurement of the overall anterior compartment of the thigh straightforward [23]. In comparison, the hyperechoic interface between the two muscles that make up the anterior compartment may be harder to clearly delineate using the pre-programmed resolution settings of the Vscan.

Further work in this field should concentrate on the potential benefits of using a pocket-sized devices over a standard ultrasound device. For example, whether a pocket-sized device confers an ergonomic benefit to users, or if the length of time spent acquiring images is similar between the two methods; a simulated study of central venous cannulation found that the time taken to achieve image acquisition and puncture of the vessel was similar between pocket-sized and standard devices [39]. In order to establish a pocket-sized device as a bedside measuring tool, measurements using the device’s own caliper function need to be compared against those obtained using formal computer software, and the use of other commercially available pocket-sized devices could be similarly evaluated for use in assessment of muscle thickness.

Finally, as this was a study performed in healthy volunteers, the device needs to be compared to a standard ultrasound device in patients at risk of muscle wasting, such as those with chronic or critical illness, to assess the effect of oedema and pre-existing sarcopenia on the accuracy of image acquisition.

Conclusion

In healthy male volunteers, a pocket-sized ultrasound device provides measurements that are comparable to a standard device in the assessment of muscle layer thickness and fascicle architecture. Further work is required to determine if such devices perform as well in patient populations.

Availability of data and materials

The datasets generated and analysed during the current study are available in the Zenodo repository, www.zenodo.org/record/2649933.

Abbreviations

AMT:

Anterior thigh muscle thickness

ICC:

Intra-class correlation coefficient

RFMT:

Rectus femoris muscle thickness

VIMT:

Vastus intermedius muscle thickness

VLFL:

Vastus lateralis fascicle length

VLMT:

Vastus lateralis muscle thickness

VLPA:

Vastis lateralis pennation angle

References

  1. Mjolstad OC, Dalen H, Graven T, Kleinau JO, Salvesen O, Haugen BO. Routinely adding ultrasound examinations by pocket-sized ultrasound devices improves inpatient diagnostics in a medical department. Eur J Int Medicine. 2012;23:185–91.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  2. Dijos M, Pucheux Y, Lafitte M, Réant P, Prevot A, Mignot A, et al. Fast track Echo of abdominal aortic aneurysm using a real pocket-ultrasound device at bedside. Echocardiography. 2012;29:285–90.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  3. Troyano Luque JM, Ferrer-Roca O, Barco-Marcellán MJ, Sabatel López R, Pérez-Medina T, Pérez-Lopez FR. Modification of the hand-held Vscan ultrasound and verification of its performance for transvaginal applications. Ultrasonics. 2013;53:17–22.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  4. Schleder S, Dendl L-M, Ernstberger A, Nerlich M, Hoffstetter P, Jung E-M, et al. Diagnostic value of a hand-carried ultrasound device for free intra-abdominal fluid and organ lacerations in major trauma patients. Emerg Med J. 2013;30:e20.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  5. Sayasneh A, Preisler J, Smith A, Saso S, Naji O, Abdallah Y, et al. Do pocket-sized ultrasound machines have the potential to be used as a tool to triage patients in obstetrics and gynecology? Ultrasound Obstet Gynecol. 2012;40(1):45–50.

    Google Scholar 

  6. Johnson GGRJ, Zeiler FA, Unger B, Hansen G, Karakitsos D, Gillman LM. Estimating the accuracy of optic nerve sheath diameter measurement using a pocket-sized, handheld ultrasound on a simulation model. Crit Ultrasound J. 2016;8:18.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  7. Keil-Ríos D, Terrazas-Solís H, González-Garay A, Sánchez-Ávila JF, García-Juárez I. Pocket ultrasound device as a complement to physical examination for ascites evaluation and guided paracentesis. Intern Emerg Med. 2016;11:461–6.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  8. Puthucheary ZA, Rawal J, McPhail M, Connolly B, Ratnayake G, Chan P, et al. Acute skeletal muscle wasting in critical illness. JAMA. 2013;310:1591.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  9. Seymour JM, Ward K, Sidhu PS, Puthucheary Z, Steier J, Jolley CJ, et al. Ultrasound measurement of rectus femoris cross-sectional area and the relationship with quadriceps strength in COPD. Thorax. 2009;64:418–23.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  10. Silva CR de S, Costa A dos S, Rocha T, de LDAM, do NT, de MSRA. Quadriceps muscle architecture ultrasonography of individuals with type 2 diabetes: reliability and applicability. PLoS One. 2018;13:e0205724.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  11. Souza V, Oliveira D, Cupolilo E, Miranda C, Colugnati F, Mansur H, et al. Rectus femoris muscle mass evaluation by ultrasound: facilitating sarcopenia diagnosis in pre-dialysis chronic kidney disease stages. Clinics. 2018;73:e392.

    PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  12. Seynnes OR, de Boer M, Narici MV. Early skeletal muscle hypertrophy and architectural changes in response to high-intensity resistance training. J Appl Physiol. 2007;102:368–73.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  13. Young H-J, Jenkins NT, Zhao Q, Mccully KK. Measurement of intramuscular fat by muscle echo intensity. Muscle Nerve. 2015;52:963–71.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  14. Kopinski S, Engel T, Cassel M, Fröhlich K, Mayer F, Carlsohn A. Ultrasound applied to subcutaneous fat tissue measurements in international elite canoeists. Int J Sports Med. 2015;36:1134–41.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  15. Rykkje A, Carlsen JF, Nielsen MB, Rykkje A, Carlsen JF, Nielsen MB. Hand-held ultrasound devices compared with high-end ultrasound systems: A systematic review. Diagnostics. 2019;9:61.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  16. Hacker ED, Peters T, Garkova M. Ultrasound assessment of the rectus Femoris cross-sectional area. West J Nurs Res. 2016;38:1221–30.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  17. Mandal S, Suh E, Thompson A, Connolly B, Ramsay M, Harding R, et al. Comparative study of linear and curvilinear ultrasound probes to assess quadriceps rectus femoris muscle mass in healthy subjects and in patients with chronic respiratory disease. BMJ Open Respir Res. 2016;3:e000103.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  18. eLima KMM, Carneiro SP. de S. Alves D, Peixinho CC, de Oliveira LF. Assessment of muscle architecture of the biceps Femoris and vastus Lateralis by ultrasound after a chronic stretching program. Clin J Sport Med. 2015;25:55–60.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  19. Turton P, Hay R, Taylor J, Mcphee J, Welters I. Human limb skeletal muscle wasting and architectural remodeling during five to ten days intubation and ventilation in critical care – an observational study using ultrasound. BMC Anesthesiol. 2016;16:119.

  20. Barber L, Barrett R, Lichtwark G. Validity and reliability of a simple ultrasound approach to measure medial gastrocnemius muscle length. J Anat. 2011;218:637–42.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  21. Francis CA, Hoffer JA, Reynolds S. Ultrasonographic evaluation of diaphragm thickness during mechanical ventilation in intensive care patients. Am J Crit Care. 2016;25:e1–8.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  22. Garcia-Vicencio S, Coudeyre E, Kluka V, Cardenoux C, Jegu A-G, Fourot A-V, et al. The bigger, the stronger? Insights from muscle architecture and nervous characteristics in obese adolescent girls. Int J Obes. 2016;40:245–51.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  23. Alfredo C, Martín G, Zepeda EM, Lescas Méndez OA. Bedside ultrasound measurement of rectus Femoris: A tutorial for the nutrition support clinician. J Nutr Metab. 2017;2017:2767232.

    Google Scholar 

  24. Wojtczak J, Bonadonna P. Pocket mobile smartphone system for the point-of-care submandibular ultrasonography. Am J Emerg Med. 2013;31:573–7.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  25. Lau BC, Motamedi D, Luke A. Use of pocket-sized ultrasound device in the diagnosis of shoulder pathology. Clin J Sport Med. 2018 Feb 14.

  26. Gursel G, Inci K, Alasgarova Z. Can diaphragm dysfunction be reliably evaluated with pocket-sized ultrasound devices in intensive care unit? Crit Care Res Prac. 2018. https://doi.org/10.1155/2018/5192647.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  27. Scarlata S, Mancini D, Laudisio A, Benigni A, Antonelli Incalzi R. Reproducibility and clinical correlates of supine diaphragmatic motion measured by M-mode ultrasonography in healthy volunteers. Respiration. 2018;16:1–8.

    Google Scholar 

  28. Strasser EM, Draskovits T, Praschak M, Quittan M, Graf A. Association between ultrasound measurements of muscle thickness, pennation angle, echogenicity and skeletal muscle strength in the elderly. Age (Omaha). 2013;35:2377–88.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  29. Fischer A, Spiegl M, Altmann K, Winkler A, Salamon A, Themessl-Huber M, et al. Muscle mass, strength and functional outcomes in critically ill patients after cardiothoracic surgery: does neuromuscular electrical stimulation help? The Catastim 2 randomized controlled trial. Crit Care. 2016;20:30.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  30. Kawakami Y, Abe T, Fukunaga T. Muscle-fiber pennation angles are greater in hypertrophied than in normal muscles. J Appl Physiol. 1993;74:2740–4.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  31. Bodine SC, Roy RR, Meadows DA, Zernicke RF, Sacks RD, Fournier M, et al. Architectural, histochemical, and contractile characteristics of a unique biarticular muscle: the cat semitendinosus. J Neurophysiol. 1982;48:192–201.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  32. Ema R, Akagi R, Wakahara T, Kawakami Y. Training-induced changes in architecture of human skeletal muscles: current evidence and unresolved issues. J Phys Fit Sport Med. 2016;5:37–46.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  33. Kumagai K, Abe T, Brechue WF, Ryushi T, Takano S, Mizuno M. Sprint performance is related to muscle fascicle length in male 100-m sprinters. J Appl Physiol. 2000;88:811–6.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  34. Parry SM, El-Ansary D, Cartwright MS, Sarwal A, Berney S, Koopman R, et al. Ultrasonography in the intensive care setting can be used to detect changes in the quality and quantity of muscle and is related to muscle strength and function. J Crit Care. 2015;30:1151.e9–1151.e14.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  35. Nishihara K, Kawai H, Kera T, Hirano H, Watanabe Y, Fujiwara Y, et al. Correlation of physical function with the thickness of multiple muscles of the quadriceps femoris in community-dwelling elderly individuals. Clin Interv Aging. 2018;13:1945–51.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  36. Ando R, Saito A, Umemura Y, Akima H. Local architecture of the vastus intermedius is a better predictor of knee extension force than that of the other quadriceps femoris muscle heads. Clin Physiol Funct Imaging. 2015;35:376–82.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  37. Puthucheary ZA, McNelly AS, Rawal J, Connolly B, Sidhu PS, Rowlerson A, et al. Rectus Femoris cross-sectional area and muscle layer thickness: comparative markers of muscle wasting and weakness. Am J Respir Crit Care Med. 2017;195:136–8.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  38. Palakshappa JA, Reilly JP, Schweickert WD, Anderson BJ, Khoury V, Shashaty MG, et al. Quantitative peripheral muscle ultrasound in sepsis: muscle area superior to thickness. J Crit Care. 2018;47:324–30.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  39. Chetioui A, Masia T, Claret P-G, Markarian T, Muller L, Lefrant JY, et al. Pocket-sized ultrasound device for internal jugular puncture: A randomized study of performance on a simulation model. J Vasc Access. 2019;20:404–8.

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgements

Not applicable.

Funding

Not applicable

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Contributions

PT and IW designed the study. PT conducted the ultrasound scans, performed the measurements, analysed the data and wrote the manuscript under the supervision of IW. RH measured the ultrasound scans as a second measurement.All authors read and approved the final manuscript.

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Peter Turton.

Ethics declarations

Ethics approval and consent to participate

Approval was obtained from the ethics committee of the Faculty of Health and Life Sciences, University of Liverpool.

Consent for publication

Not applicable.

Competing interests

The authors declare that they have no competing interests.

Additional information

Publisher’s Note

Springer Nature remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations.

Rights and permissions

Open Access This article is distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided you give appropriate credit to the original author(s) and the source, provide a link to the Creative Commons license, and indicate if changes were made. The Creative Commons Public Domain Dedication waiver (http://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/zero/1.0/) applies to the data made available in this article, unless otherwise stated.

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Turton, P., Hay, R. & Welters, I. Assessment of peripheral muscle thickness and architecture in healthy volunteers using hand-held ultrasound devices; a comparison study with standard ultrasound. BMC Med Imaging 19, 69 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1186/s12880-019-0373-x

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1186/s12880-019-0373-x

Keywords