Quantifying passive muscle stiffness in children with and without cerebral palsy using ultrasound shear wave elastography

• Published in: Developmental medicine and child neurology 2016-12, Vol.58 (12), p.1288-1294
• Main Authors: Brandenburg, Joline E, Eby, Sarah F, Song, Pengfei, Kingsley‐Berg, Shirley, Bamlet, William, Sieck, Gary C, An, Kai‐Nan
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Ankle Joint - physiopathology; Cerebral Palsy - diagnostic imaging; Child; Child, Preschool; Elasticity Imaging Techniques - methods; Female; Humans; Male; Muscle Spasticity - diagnostic imaging; Muscle, Skeletal - diagnostic imaging; Range of Motion, Articular - physiology
• ISSN: 0012-1622; 1469-8749
• DOI: 10.1111/dmcn.13179

Aim The aim of this study was to compare passive muscle stiffness in children with cerebral palsy (CP) and children with typical development using a novel ultrasound technique: ultrasound shear wave elastography (SWE). Method We conducted a prospective study of 13 children with CP (six females and seven males, median age 5y 1mo [interquartile range 4y 4mo–7y 8mo]) and 13 children with typical development (six females and seven males, median age 5y 3mo [interquartile range 4y 4mo–9y 4mo]). Demographic information and physical exam measurements were obtained in addition to shear modulus measurements (passive muscle stiffness) of the lateral gastrocnemius muscle at 20° plantar flexion, 10° plantar flexion, and 0° plantar flexion using SWE. Results Children with CP had significantly greater shear modulus measurements at all three foot positions (p