Skeletal Muscle Architecture Are Associated with Strength and Functional Capacity in Older Adults

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Isaac Selva Raj discusses whether ultrasound measures of muscle architecture can be used to infer strength and functional capacity in older adults.

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Institution: Murdoch University

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Isaac Selva Raj discusses whether ultrasound measures of muscle architecture can be used to infer strength and functional capacity in older adults.

Image courtesy of interviewee. April 5, 2024

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The study aims to explore the relationships between ultrasound measurements of lower limb muscle architecture and related factors like muscle strength, power, and physical function in older adults. This video video research is significant for diagnosing sarcopenia, a condition marked by reduced muscle strength and mass in elderly populations, which can lead to severe impairments.

The study involved 36 participants (20 males and 16 females) with an average age of 68 from Melbourne, Australia. Using a cross-sectional design, the researchers measured muscle architecture through ultrasound and assessed muscle strength and power with isokinetic dynamometry at various speeds (60 to 360 degrees per second).

Key findings indicate that muscle architecture is correlated with physical function and strength in the quadriceps and calf muscles. Faster contraction speeds are crucial for maintaining functional ability in later life. The results suggest that ultrasound can effectively evaluate muscle mass and predict strength and functional capacity in older adults.

Future aims include developing normative values for muscle measurements, which can help determine when individuals might need interventions or exercise to maintain or improve their muscle health.

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X-TIMESTAMP-MAP:LOCAL=00:00:00.000,MPEGTS=900000

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So the objectives of this study were

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to investigate the relationships between ultrasound measures

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of lower limb muscle architecture and muscle strength, power

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and physical function, and all that.

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The reason why we did this is

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because our research could have implications for,

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diagnosing or identifying a condition called

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sarcopenia in older adults.

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So sarcopenia is where, we observe lower muscle strength

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and muscle mass in older adults, for various reasons.

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Uh, and this can be quite debilitating in older age.

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So we want to identify early enough so

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that we can implement interventions to, to reverse or,

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or reduce the effects of, of sarcopenia and,

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and that that's the reason why we are

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looking at older adults.

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So isokinetic, dynamometry is a term that's used

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to describe a variety of muscle function tests

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that are performed using a machine called an

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isokinetic dynamometer.

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Um, so these tests assess maximum muscle strength

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and power, and they do them at constant movement speeds.

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Um, and isometric exercise, is an exercise

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that involves static muscle contractions.

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Uh, whereas an iso kinetic exercise is one

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where the muscle contractions occur at a

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constant movement speed.

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But at variable resistance, isometric exercise might be one

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where you're pushing against a wall, for example,

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and you are contracting your muscles, you're trying

01:30.485 --> 01:32.285
to move the wall, but it's not moving

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'cause it's, it's, it's a wall.

01:34.585 --> 01:39.405
Um, whereas an iso kinetic exercise is one

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where in, in usual e everyday life, it's, it's one

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that doesn't necessarily occur.

01:45.505 --> 01:48.805
And that's why we need to use an A machine to, to,

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bring about those contractions.

01:51.465 --> 01:55.205
The dataset involved 36 participants.

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Um, and we recruited them from the local

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community in Melbourne, Australia.

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Uh, there were 20 males and 16 females in the study,

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and they had an average age of 68 years.

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They were all apparently healthier adults.

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In terms of the research design.

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We used a cross-sectional research design so

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that we could look at the correlations of these measures,

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within the individuals at one time point.

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Um, in terms of, our use of ultrasound,

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we used brightness mode

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or B mode ultrasound, which is the mode

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that's commonly used in medical imaging.

02:39.935 --> 02:42.395
Um, we used a linear transducer

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and for various muscles for the quadriceps,

02:47.075 --> 02:49.435
we asked the participants to sit upright

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with a knee angle at 90 degrees.

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Uh, and we also tested the calf muscles.

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We asked the participants to lie prone for this,

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assessment, and we fixed

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The ankle angle.

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Um, and for both of these muscle groups,

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we asked participants to completely relax their muscles so

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that we could get accurate measurements.

03:07.025 --> 03:08.165
And we took images

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that predetermined sites along those muscles.

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And then from these images, we extracted,

03:13.915 --> 03:16.645
various measures that we call muscle architecture.

03:17.225 --> 03:20.045
It specifically, we extracted muscle thickness,

03:20.665 --> 03:22.045
muscle penetration angle,

03:22.465 --> 03:24.525
and the physical length from our study.

03:24.665 --> 03:28.405
The novel finding was that there are correlations between

03:29.265 --> 03:32.165
muscle architecture, specifically in the calf

03:32.385 --> 03:36.575
and in the quadriceps and physical function.

03:36.955 --> 03:40.175
We agreed with what was found previously in

03:40.205 --> 03:41.855
that there were correlations

03:41.855 --> 03:44.175
between quadriceps muscle architecture

03:44.435 --> 03:47.255
and strength in all the adults as well.

03:47.835 --> 03:50.975
We tested muscle strength and power, as I mentioned.

03:51.475 --> 03:55.415
Um, and we did this at, at various contract contraction

03:56.075 --> 03:59.335
speeds of the knee, extens of the quadricep muscles.

04:00.075 --> 04:02.175
Um, and we tested these at

04:03.035 --> 04:07.505
61 22 40, and 360 degrees per second.

04:08.005 --> 04:09.385
So there were a range of speeds.

04:10.415 --> 04:14.675
The 60 degrees per second was a relatively slow contraction

04:15.295 --> 04:17.235
up to very fast,

04:17.375 --> 04:21.355
almost a kicking action at 360 degrees per second.

04:22.175 --> 04:26.395
Um, and so these faster contractions that were important

04:26.395 --> 04:28.275
because they seem to be really important

04:28.295 --> 04:32.475
for function in later life, what we found is that,

04:32.695 --> 04:34.435
we adapt very specifically

04:34.815 --> 04:38.075
to the the muscle contraction speeds that we train at.

04:38.575 --> 04:41.795
So if we, in everyday life only move very slowly,

04:41.905 --> 04:44.795
then we might get stronger at the slower contraction speeds.

04:44.985 --> 04:48.595
Whereas if we move faster, then of course we get,

04:48.595 --> 04:49.795
faster, the stronger ones.

04:50.415 --> 04:52.115
Uh, and what we found is

04:52.115 --> 04:55.035
that at the faster contraction speeds is what's really

04:55.035 --> 04:56.995
important, for function.

04:57.495 --> 05:01.355
And so therefore, we wanted to test using iso dynamometry,

05:01.415 --> 05:02.875
all these range of speeds.

05:03.365 --> 05:05.915
These results that we got, suggest that,

05:06.415 --> 05:10.435
muscle ultrasound measures can be a valuable tool to

05:11.035 --> 05:15.115
evaluate the muscle mass as well as the predict the strength

05:15.135 --> 05:17.195
and functional capacity of older adults.

05:17.775 --> 05:20.635
Um, and so what we'd like to do with this,

05:20.995 --> 05:24.475
research in the future is develop some normative values.

05:24.895 --> 05:27.075
So, for example, for muscle thickness

05:27.255 --> 05:28.475
or for penetration angle

05:28.615 --> 05:29.955
or muscle classical length,

05:30.295 --> 05:33.755
we wanna get some minimum values, for example, that tell us

05:34.535 --> 05:37.395
beyond this level, someone might need some extra

05:37.395 --> 05:39.635
intervention or exercise to improve.

05:40.295 --> 05:42.355
Um, so that's the next step to, to look at

05:42.355 --> 05:45.715
what we can use this information for in everyday life.

Ultrasound's Role in Assessing Sarcopenia

00:00:00 - So the objectives of this study were to investigate the relationships between ultrasound measures of lower limb muscle architecture and muscle strength, power and physical function, and all that. The reason why we did this is because our research could have implications for, diagnosing or identifying a condition called sarcopenia in older adults. So sarcopenia is where, we observe lower muscle strength and muscle mass in older adults, for various reasons. and this can be quite debilitating in older age.
00:00:35 - that we can implement interventions to, to reverse or, or reduce the effects of, of sarcopenia and, and that that's the reason why we are looking at older adults. So isokinetic, dynamometry is a term that's used to describe a variety of muscle function tests that are performed using a machine called an isokinetic dynamometer. so these tests assess maximum muscle strength and power, and they do them at constant movement speeds.
00:01:08 - that involves static muscle contractions. whereas an iso kinetic exercise is one where the muscle contractions occur at a constant movement speed. But at variable resistance, isometric exercise might be one where you're pushing against a wall, for example, and you are contracting your muscles, you're trying to move the wall, but it's not moving 'cause it's, it's, it's a wall. whereas an iso kinetic exercise is one
00:01:43 - that doesn't necessarily occur. And that's why we need to use an A machine to, to, bring about those contractions. The dataset involved 36 participants. and we recruited them from the local community in Melbourne, Australia. there were 20 males and 16 females in the study, and they had an average age of 68 years. They were all apparently healthier adults.
00:02:15 - We used a cross-sectional research design so that we could look at the correlations of these measures, within the individuals at one time point. in terms of, our use of ultrasound, we used brightness mode or B mode ultrasound, which is the mode that's commonly used in medical imaging. we used a linear transducer and for various muscles for the quadriceps,
00:02:49 - with a knee angle at 90 degrees. and we also tested the calf muscles. We asked the participants to lie prone for this, assessment, and we fixed The ankle angle. and for both of these muscle groups, we asked participants to completely relax their muscles so that we could get accurate measurements. And we took images that predetermined sites along those muscles. And then from these images, we extracted, various measures that we call muscle architecture.

Muscle Architecture's Impact on Functionality

00:03:20 - muscle penetration angle, and the physical length from our study. The novel finding was that there are correlations between muscle architecture, specifically in the calf and in the quadriceps and physical function. We agreed with what was found previously in that there were correlations between quadriceps muscle architecture and strength in all the adults as well.
00:03:51 - and we did this at, at various contract contraction speeds of the knee, extens of the quadricep muscles. and we tested these at 61 22 40, and 360 degrees per second. So there were a range of speeds. The 60 degrees per second was a relatively slow contraction up to very fast, almost a kicking action at 360 degrees per second.
00:04:26 - because they seem to be really important for function in later life, what we found is that, we adapt very specifically to the the muscle contraction speeds that we train at. So if we, in everyday life only move very slowly, then we might get stronger at the slower contraction speeds. Whereas if we move faster, then of course we get, faster, the stronger ones. and what we found is that at the faster contraction speeds is what's really
00:04:57 - And so therefore, we wanted to test using iso dynamometry, all these range of speeds. These results that we got, suggest that, muscle ultrasound measures can be a valuable tool to evaluate the muscle mass as well as the predict the strength and functional capacity of older adults. and so what we'd like to do with this, research in the future is develop some normative values. So, for example, for muscle thickness
00:05:42 - or muscle classical length, we wanna get some minimum values, for example, that tell us beyond this level, someone might need some extra intervention or exercise to improve. so that's the next step to, to look at what we can use this information for in everyday life.

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Skeletal Muscle Architecture Are Associated with Strength and Functional Capacity in Older Adults

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