The aim of this study was to evaluate the use of ultrasound imaging (USI) as a diagnostic tool to assess muscle function after a spinal cord injury (SCI). Ultrasound videos of the gastrocnemius medialis muscle were recorded both at rest and during attempted maximum voluntary contraction (MVC) for fifteen participants with a SCI and fifteen able-bodied controls. Measurements were repeated at monthly intervals for participants in the SCI group during their inpatient stay. Differences in muscle echogenicity and thickness were detected between both able-bodied and SCI groups and subgroups of SCI participants, suggesting USI can detect and monitor changes in muscle structure which are characteristic of atrophy. Decreased muscle movement in the SCI groups was also detected during attempted MVC. The ability of USI to distinguish between different levels of function demonstrates the potential of USI as a quantitative tool to assess muscles.

本研究的目的是评估使用超声成像 (USI) 作为评估脊髓损伤 (SCI) 后肌肉功能的诊断工具。为 15 名患有 SCI 的参与者和 15 名身体健全的对照者在休息和尝试最大自主收缩 (MVC) 期间记录腓肠内侧肌的超声视频。SCI 组参与者在住院期间每月重复测量一次。在身体健全的和 SCI 组以及 SCI 参与者的亚组之间检测到肌肉回声和厚度的差异，表明 USI 可以检测和监测肌肉结构的变化，这是萎缩的特征。在尝试 MVC 期间也检测到 SCI 组的肌肉运动减少。