In vivo assessment of tibialis anterior muscle in passive and active states using shear wave elastography

• Published in: Gait & posture 2023-09, Vol.106, p.S324-S324
• Main Authors: Keles, Cemre Su Kaya, Hiller, Jennifer, Zimmer, Manuela, Ates, Filiz
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• ISSN: 0966-6362; 1879-2219
• DOI: 10.1016/j.gaitpost.2023.07.117

To design effective exercise or rehabilitation routines, it is crucial to quantify the mechanics of individual muscles. Surface electromyography (sEMG) has been used in active muscle characterization however, it lacks representative information in passive state. Ultrasound shear wave elastography (SWE) is a non-invasive approach that showed promise in assessing local muscular properties both in active and passive states [1–4]. We investigated the tibialis anterior (TA) muscle, a major dorsiflexor in relation to ankle joint position and function. Specifically, we tested whether SWE reflects the changes in TA muscle due to (i) length changes imposed by the ankle position in a passive state, and (ii) the activity level changes during isometric contractions. Ten healthy volunteers (five females, 26.6 ± 3.9 years old) participated. Simultaneous sEMG and SWE of the TA and ankle torque measurements were performed at -15º dorsiflexion, 0º neutral, and 15º, 30º, and 45º plantar flexion positions during rest, maximum voluntary contractions (MVC) and submaximal isometric ramp contractions (25%, 50%, and 75% MVC). Muscle lengths were measured at each ankle angle using B-mode ultrasound. TA length changed with the ankle angle (p