Assessment of individual muscle hardness and stiffness using ultrasound elastography

Abstract

Assessing muscle mechanical properties such as hardness and stiffness has important clinical implications. The use of ultrasound elastography to assess individual muscle hardness or stiffness has been increasing in recent years. Several different ultrasound elastography methods are currently in use, including strain elastography and shear wave elastography, which are capable of capturing the distribution of hardness and stiffness within individual muscles. In the present review, we outline some of the current basic and clinical applications of strain elastography and shear wave elastography, and illustrate how such ultrasound elastography technologies may further advance understanding of individual muscle mechanical properties as well as muscle functions.