Muscle Contractures in Adults With Cerebral Palsy Characterized by Combined Ultrasound-Derived Echo Intensity and Handheld Dynamometry Measures

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We used ultrasound-derived echo intensity and hand-held dynamometry to characterize plantar flexor muscle contractures in adults with cerebral palsy (CP). Eleven adults with CP (aged 41 ± 12 y, Gross Motor Function Classification System I–II) and 11 neurologically intact adults (aged 35 ± 10 y) participated in the study. Echo intensity was measured from the medial gastrocnemius muscle using brightness mode ultrasound. Hand-held dynamometry was used to quantify plantar flexor passive muscle stiffness and ankle joint passive range of motion (pROM). Echo intensity correlated with both passive muscle stiffness (r = 0.57, p = 0.006) and pROM (r = –0.56, p = 0.006). Ultrasound echo intensity (p = 0.02, standardized mean difference [SMD] = 1.13) and passive muscle stiffness (p < 0.001, SMD = 1.99) were higher and ankle joint pROM (p < 0.001, SMD = 2.69) was lower in adults with CP than in neurologically intact adults. We conclude that combined ultrasound-derived echo intensity and hand-held dynamometry may be used to provide an objective characterization of muscle contractures.

Original languageEnglish
JournalUltrasound in Medicine and Biology
Volume48
Issue number4
Pages (from-to)694-701
Number of pages8
ISSN0301-5629
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 2022

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© 2021 The Authors

    Research areas

  • Cerebral palsy, Contracture, Echo intensity, Grayscale, Intramuscular fat, Muscle composition, Muscle stiffness, Range of motion, Ultrasound

ID: 291010103