Mixed
B-mode ultrasonography (US) provides valid, reliable, and comparable measurements of vastus lateralis cross-sectional area (VLCSA) changes in response to resistance training-induced hypertrophy and immobilization-induced atrophy when compared to MRI, provided that probe pressure is minimized (<0.2 N) and image stitching techniques are used.
If you are tracking muscle growth or loss using ultrasound, ensure you use a thick layer of gel and apply minimal pressure (just enough for contact, <0.2N) to avoid compressing the muscle. Use image stitching if possible to get a full cross-sectional area view. This method is validated as a reliable alternative to MRI for tracking changes over time in young, healthy men.
Our data suggest that B-mode ultrasonography can be a suitable alternative to MRI for measuring changes in muscle size in response to increased and decreased muscle loading in young men.
Why this rating
High-quality validation study with 14 participants, using MRI as gold standard, showing strong correlations (r>0.85) and minimal bias.
Source
Methodological considerations for and validation of the ultrasonographic determination of human skeletal muscle hypertrophy and atrophy
Tanner Stokes et al. · Physiological Reports · 2021
DOI 10.14814/phy2.14683
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