Department of Life Science and Biotechnology, Health and Medical Research Institute, National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology (AIST), 2217-14 Hayashi-cho, Takamatsu, Kagawa, 761-0395, Japan.
Graduate School of Science and Technology, Gunma University, 1-5-1, Tenjin-cho, Kiryu, Gunma, 376-8515, Japan.
Sci Rep. 2020 Dec 17;10(1):22248. doi: 10.1038/s41598-020-79215-z.
In recent years, non-invasive measurement of tissue stiffness (hardness) using ultrasound elastography has attracted considerable attention. It has been used to evaluate muscle stiffness in the fields of rehabilitation, sports, and orthopedics. However, ultrasonic diagnostic devices with elastography systems are expensive and clinical use of such devices has been limited. In this study, we proposed a novel estimation method for vibration-based shear wave elastography measurement of human skeletal muscle, then determined its reproducibility and reliability. The coefficient of variation and correlation coefficient were used to determine reproducibility and reliability of the method by measuring the shear wave velocities in konjac phantom gels and agar phantom gels, as well as skeletal muscle. The intra-day, day-to-day, and inter-operator reliabilities were good when measuring the shear wave velocities in phantom gels. The intra-day and day-to-day reliabilities were good when measuring the shear wave velocities in skeletal muscle. The findings confirmed adequate reproducibility and reliability of the novel estimation method for vibration-based shear wave elastography. Therefore, the proposed measurement method may be a useful tool for evaluation of muscle stiffness.
近年来，利用超声弹性成像技术无创测量组织硬度（刚性）引起了广泛关注。它已被用于康复、运动和骨科领域评估肌肉硬度。然而，具有弹性成像系统的超声诊断设备价格昂贵，此类设备的临床应用受到限制。在这项研究中，我们提出了一种新的基于振动的剪切波弹性成像测量人体骨骼肌的估计方法，然后确定了其可重复性和可靠性。通过测量魔芋凝胶和琼脂凝胶以及骨骼肌中的剪切波速度，使用变异系数和相关系数来确定方法的可重复性和可靠性。在测量凝胶中的剪切波速度时，日内、日间和操作者间的可靠性良好。在测量骨骼肌中的剪切波速度时，日内和日间的可靠性良好。研究结果证实了基于振动的剪切波弹性成像新估计方法具有足够的可重复性和可靠性。因此，所提出的测量方法可能是评估肌肉硬度的有用工具。
