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

Ultrasound imaging for measuring muscle and subcutaneous fat tissue thickness of the anterior thigh: A two-year longitudinal study in middle age
Ultrasound imaging for measuring muscle and subcutaneous fat tissue thickness of the anterior thigh: A two-year longitudinal study in middle age
Background Ultrasound (US) imaging technique is widely used in research and clinical settings to assess the morphology and morphometry of neuromusculoskeletal structures. The technique has reported validity and reliability in measuring the size of various muscles under controlled conditions. The aim of the present study was to assess anterior thigh thickness using US imaging, in a healthy cohort of middle-aged older adults.

Methods Participants included seventeen healthy older adults involved in regular moderate-vigorous activities (age range 39-66 years). US imaging scans of the anterior thighs two years since baseline measurements were performed. Images were analyzed off-line to compare US imaging measurements of muscle thickness and subcutaneous fat (SF) of the anterior thigh taken at baseline and after two years.

Results There was no significant difference between muscle thickness measurements taken at baseline and after two years (Mean, standard deviation; baseline=2.80±0.71cm; follow-up=2.77±0.72cm, p=0.33). There was also no significant change in SF thickness (baseline=1.04±0.41cm; follow-up=1.06±0.40, p=0.33).

Conclusions The results show there was no decline in anterior thigh muscle thickness or increase in SF in the healthy cohort studied using US imaging over a two-year period. These findings demonstrate the robustness of US imaging measurements over time.
2521-3555
Mechelli, Filippo
b50d11c2-99d6-465c-a031-c99b8f79be5b
Arendt-Neilsen, Lars
efc7de44-a175-40d5-a289-0d9b7b37e660
Stokes, Maria
71730503-70ce-4e67-b7ea-a3e54579717f
Agyapong-Badu, Sandra
a48029a3-7908-47c3-84ff-0ad6898cbb1c
Mechelli, Filippo
b50d11c2-99d6-465c-a031-c99b8f79be5b
Arendt-Neilsen, Lars
efc7de44-a175-40d5-a289-0d9b7b37e660
Stokes, Maria
71730503-70ce-4e67-b7ea-a3e54579717f
Agyapong-Badu, Sandra
a48029a3-7908-47c3-84ff-0ad6898cbb1c

Mechelli, Filippo, Arendt-Neilsen, Lars, Stokes, Maria and Agyapong-Badu, Sandra (2019) Ultrasound imaging for measuring muscle and subcutaneous fat tissue thickness of the anterior thigh: A two-year longitudinal study in middle age. JCSM Clinical Reports: Journal of Cachexia, Sarcopenia and Muscle, 4 (2). (doi:10.17987/jcsm-cr.v4i2.94). (In Press)

Record type: Article

Abstract

Background Ultrasound (US) imaging technique is widely used in research and clinical settings to assess the morphology and morphometry of neuromusculoskeletal structures. The technique has reported validity and reliability in measuring the size of various muscles under controlled conditions. The aim of the present study was to assess anterior thigh thickness using US imaging, in a healthy cohort of middle-aged older adults.

Methods Participants included seventeen healthy older adults involved in regular moderate-vigorous activities (age range 39-66 years). US imaging scans of the anterior thighs two years since baseline measurements were performed. Images were analyzed off-line to compare US imaging measurements of muscle thickness and subcutaneous fat (SF) of the anterior thigh taken at baseline and after two years.

Results There was no significant difference between muscle thickness measurements taken at baseline and after two years (Mean, standard deviation; baseline=2.80±0.71cm; follow-up=2.77±0.72cm, p=0.33). There was also no significant change in SF thickness (baseline=1.04±0.41cm; follow-up=1.06±0.40, p=0.33).

Conclusions The results show there was no decline in anterior thigh muscle thickness or increase in SF in the healthy cohort studied using US imaging over a two-year period. These findings demonstrate the robustness of US imaging measurements over time.

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Ultrasound imaging for measuring muscle and subcutaneous fat tissue thickness of the anterior thigh - Accepted Manuscript
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Accepted/In Press date: 21 August 2019

Identifiers

Local EPrints ID: 433690
URI: http://eprints.soton.ac.uk/id/eprint/433690
ISSN: 2521-3555
PURE UUID: 997727f6-0a8a-4a21-bbda-8df1eeb0e4ea
ORCID for Maria Stokes: ORCID iD orcid.org/0000-0002-4204-0890

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Date deposited: 30 Aug 2019 16:30
Last modified: 17 Mar 2024 02:56

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Contributors

Author: Filippo Mechelli
Author: Lars Arendt-Neilsen
Author: Maria Stokes ORCID iD
Author: Sandra Agyapong-Badu

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