Quantitative muscle ultrasound and quadriceps strength in patients with post‐polio syndrome |
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Authors: | Alice Bickerstaffe MD Anita Beelen PhD Machiel J. Zwarts MD PhD Frans Nollet MD PhD Johannes P. van Dijk PhD |
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Affiliation: | 1. Department of Rehabilitation, Academic Medical Center, Amsterdam, The Netherlands;2. Epilepsy Centre Kempenhaeghe, Heeze, The Netherlands;3. Department of Orthodontics, University of Ulm, Ulm, Germany |
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Abstract: | Introduction: We investigated whether muscle ultrasound can distinguish muscles affected by post‐polio syndrome (PPS) from healthy muscles and whether severity of ultrasound abnormalities is associated with muscle strength. Methods: Echo intensity, muscle thickness, and isometric strength of the quadriceps muscles were measured in 48 patients with PPS and 12 healthy controls. Results: Patients with PPS had significantly higher echo intensity and lower muscle thickness than healthy controls. In patients, both echo intensity and muscle thickness were associated independently with muscle strength. A combined measure of echo intensity and muscle thickness was more strongly related to muscle strength than either parameter alone. Conclusions: Quantitative ultrasound distinguishes healthy muscles from those affected by PPS, and measures of muscle quality and quantity are associated with muscle strength. Hence, ultrasound could be a useful tool for assessing disease severity and monitoring changes resulting from disease progression or clinical intervention in patients with PPS. Muscle Nerve 51 : 24–29, 2015 |
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Keywords: | muscle fibers, muscle strength neuromuscular diseases post‐poliomyelitis syndrome skeletal ultrasonography |
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