Techniques which visualize and quantify musculo-skeletal activity are rare. MRI is a technique which generates impressive structural details but unfortunately lacks in high temporal resolution. Besides, MRI provides limitations as to the studying of functional movements of the musculo-skeletal system. Further, electromyelography (EMG) is a widely used technique when investigating muscular function. This method provides important information about the neurological input to the skeletal muscle and about the muscular force development. Within the area of cardiology a technique called Tissue velocity imaging (TVI) has been developed, scrutinizing segmental movements and velocities within the heart muscle. This technique provides the basis for investigations also for segmental musculo-skeletal movements.
Ultrasound equipment today delivers high frequency probes with high precision resolution. Together with sophisticated software solutions this concept seems to have a very promising future.
An aim of the research is to study how anatomical muscles move in relation to their contiguous muscles (inter-muscular coordination). A second aim is to study how different muscle segments are moving in relation to their surrounding segments (intra-muscular coordination).
Basically, different ultrasound techniques are in focus. Tissue Doppler ultrasound is one of the techniques used which makes it possible to identify patterns of contraction and relaxation and hereby patterns of active and passive segments within a muscle. Reflector-based speckle tracking algorithms applied to grey scale B-scans is another ultrasound technique following these aims.
Our division is engaged in several multidisciplinary collaborations covering both clinical and industrial segments. The clinical studies cover areas within isokinetic reference studies of healthy muscles but also analysis of muscle performance during training/rehabilitation, covering also injured muscles and muscle tissue aspects as a consequence of neuro-muscular diseases. There is a considerable number of clinical and technical collaborations, one involves studies of the dynamics in the Achilles tendon and calf. Within this collaboration project healthy individuals are studied but also patients with an injured tendon. Also healing and rehabilitation processes after injury are at stake. Different clinical methods are under scrutiny aiming to evaluate training and rehabilitation aspects.
Research is also performed in the field of integrating different medical techniques, gathering a multitude of data, for example integrating EMG, biochemical markers and movement parameters. Advanced multivariate analysis techniques are under development in collaboration with both academic and industrial partners.
Period: 2001-12-01
Keywords:
Electromyography, Skeletal muscle dynamics, Ultrasound imaging
Project URL:
http://www.kth.se/sth/forskning/medicisink_teknik/forskningsprojekt/1.1345
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Strain rate curves from Quadriceps contractions registered by ultrasound.
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KTH Research Projec...
