Validity and reliability of 3D ultrasound imaging to m hamstring muscle and tendon volumes

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Frouin, Antoine | Guenanten, Hugo | Le Sant, Guillaume | Lacourpaille, Lilian | Liebard, Martin | Sarcher, Aurélie | Mcnair, Peter, J. | Ellis, Richard | Nordez, Antoine

Edité par CCSD -

International audience. INTRODUCTION: Measuring muscle and tendon volume is important to understanding adaptations in response to immobilization, training or rehabilitation. For instance, small-sized grafts used during anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstructions are highly predictive to be at risk of later risk of failure. In addition, atrophy of semitendinosus and gracilis can be observed 2 to 4 years after the ACL surgery, altering the recovery of force in these muscles (1). Therefore, quantifying architectural parameters of these muscles could be useful to identify patients at risk of small-sized grafts, and prepare accordingly using rehabilitation programs. The current gold standard to assess muscle and tendon volumes is Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI). However, its cost and accessibility make it prohibitive in many clinical/research settings. 3D ultrasound (US) imaging combines B-mode US imaging and 3D motion analysis of the US probe, would produce 3D images to overcome this problem (2). This study aimed to assess the reliability (test-retest) and the validity of 3D US imaging against MRI in measuring hamstring muscle and tendon volume in healthy participants.METHODS: Thirteen healthy volunteers received two sessions of 3D US acquisitions (spaced by 24h on average) of biceps femoris long (BFlh) and short head (BFsh), semitendinosus (ST), semimembranosus (SM) and gracilis (GR) muscle , but also semitendinosus, in addition to one session of MRI.RESULTS: The bias for 3D US ranged from -1.92 mL (-0.81%) to 1.21mL (0.97%) for muscle volume, and 0.01 mL (0.23%) and -0.03 mL (-2.58%) for tendon volume. The reliability analysis of 3D US imaging for muscle volume give intra-class correlation coefficients (ICC) from 0.98 (GR) to 1.00 (ST), and coefficients of variation (CV) from 1.13% (SM) to 3.37% (BFsh). The standard error of measurement was between 1.79 mL (GR) to 3.85 mL (BFsh), and the minimal detectable change between 4.95 mL (GR) to 10.67 mL (BFsh). For tendon volume, ICCs were 0.99, and CVs between 3.19% (STtd) and 3.43% (GRtd). The SEM were 0.06 mL (STtd) and 0.04 mL (GRtd), and MDC were 0.17 mL (STtd) and 0.10 mL (GRtd).CONCLUSION: This study showed that 3D US, combined with the use of a gel pad, provides hamstring (Semitendinosus, Semimembranosus, Biceps femoris) and Gracilis muscle-tendon volumes with limited bias and limits of agreement when compared to MRI. In addition, a good test-retest reliability was observed for muscle and tendon volumes. These results provide opportunities for this technique to be used to assess hamstring volume (and adaptations) in exercise training and clinical settings. For that purpose, the effects of a 9-week muscular strengthening program on muscular and tendinous volume are set to be evaluated by this method. Preliminary results would be presented at the congress.

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