The aim of this review was to identify instrumented devices that quantify skeletal muscle mechanical properties and to evaluate their potential clinical utility and clinimetric evidence with respect to children. Four databases were searched to identify articles reporting original clinimetric data for devices measuring muscle stiffness or elastic modulus, along a muscle's main fibre direction. Clinimetric evidence was rated using the Consensus-Based Standard for the Selection of Measurement Instruments (COSMIN) checklist. Sixty-five articles provided clinimetric data for two devices meeting our criteria: the Aixplorer and the Acuson. Both are shear wave elastography devices that determine the shear modulus of muscle tissue. The Aixplorer had strong construct validity and reliability, and the Acuson, moderate construct validity and reliability. Both devices have sound clinical utility with non-invasive application at various joint positions and data acquisition in real time, minimizing fatigue. Further research is warranted to evaluate utility for children with specific disorders of abnormal muscle structure or function.

本次审查的目的是确定量化骨骼肌机械特性的仪器设备，并评估它们对儿童的潜在临床效用和临床证据。搜索了四个数据库，以识别报告沿肌肉主要纤维方向测量肌肉刚度或弹性模量的设备的原始临床数据的文章。使用基于共识的测量仪器选择标准 (COSMIN) 检查表对临床证据进行评级。65 篇文章提供了符合我们标准的两种设备的临床数据：Aixplorer 和 Acuson。两者都是确定肌肉组织剪切模量的剪切波弹性成像设备。Aixplorer 具有很强的结构效度和信度，而 Acuson 具有中等结构效度和信度。这两种设备都具有良好的临床实用性，可在各种关节位置进行非侵入性应用并实时采集数据，最大限度地减少疲劳。需要进一步研究以评估对患有特定肌肉结构或功能异常的儿童的效用。