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Exercise induced changes in echo intensity within the muscle: a brief review
Vickie Wong1, Robert W Spitz1, Zachary W Bell1
1Kevser Ermin Applied Physiology Laboratory, Department of Health, Exercise Science, and Recreation Management, The University of Mississippi, 231 Turner Center, University, MS, 38677, USA.
Journal of Ultrasound
|January 12, 2020
Summary
Echo intensity, a marker in ultrasound imaging, shows inconsistent changes with exercise. Further research is needed to understand its physiological meaning in muscle quality, damage, and glycogen response.
Area of Science:
- Exercise Physiology
- Biomedical Imaging
- Musculoskeletal Ultrasound
Background:
- Echo intensity (mean pixel intensity in ultrasound) is increasingly used as a physiological marker.
- Its application in exercise science is growing, but physiological interpretations remain unclear.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review existing and current literature on changes in echo intensity in response to exercise.
- To explore the physiological underpinnings of echo intensity variations during physical activity.
Main Methods:
- Literature review of studies investigating echo intensity changes with exercise.
- Analysis of reported physiological interpretations and inconsistencies.
Main Results:
- Echo intensity has been linked to muscle quality, damage, swelling, and glycogen levels.
- Observed changes in echo intensity are inconsistent across studies, sometimes contradicting expected physiological responses (e.g., increased intensity with increased strength).
Conclusions:
- The physiological meaning of echo intensity changes during exercise is not consistently understood.
- Caution is advised when interpreting echo intensity variations in response to acute and chronic exercise until further experimental validation.
- Further research is recommended to experimentally determine the specific physiological effects represented by echo intensity at different time points.
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