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Updated: Feb 5, 2026

Muscle Function Obtained with Motion Mode Ultrasound and Surface Electromyography during Core Endurance Exercise
Published on: August 25, 2022
Quantitative peripheral muscle ultrasound in sepsis: Muscle area superior to thickness
Jessica A Palakshappa1, John P Reilly2, William D Schweickert2
1Division of Pulmonary, Allergy, and Critical Care, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA; Section of Pulmonary, Critical Care, Allergy, and Immunologic Diseases, Wake Forest Baptist Health, Winston-Salem, NC 27157, USA.
Purpose:
The objective of this study is to describe the relationship between two quantitative muscle ultrasound measures, the rectus femoris cross-sectional area (RF-CSA) and quadriceps muscle thickness, with volitional measures of strength and function in critically ill patients with sepsis.
Materials And Methods:
We performed a prospective study of patients admitted to a medical ICU with sepsis and shock or respiratory failure. We examined the association of two ultrasound measurements - the RF-CSA and quadriceps muscle thickness - with strength and function at day 7. Strength was determined using the Medical Research Council Score and function using Physical Function in the ICU Test, scored.
Results:
Twenty-nine patients were enrolled; 19 patients had outcome testing performed. Over 7days, RF-CSA and thickness decreased by an average of 23.2% and 17.9%, respectively. The rate of change per day of RF-CSA displayed a moderate correlation with strength (ρ 0.51, p-value 0.03) on day 7. Baseline and day 7 RF-CSA did not show a significant correlation with either outcome. Quadriceps muscle thickness did not significantly correlate with either outcome.
Conclusions:
Muscle atrophy as detected by the rate of change in RF-CSA moderately correlated with strength one week after sepsis admission.
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