Related Experiment Video
Updated: May 7, 2026
Lower Limb Biomechanical Analysis of Healthy Participants
Published on: April 15, 2020
Association Between Leg Muscle Thickness and Walking Test With the Hemophilia-Specific Functional Parameters
Jia-Pei Hong1, Jiunn-Horng Kang, Chian-Her Lee
1From the Department of Rehabilitation, Shuang-Ho Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan (J-PH); Department of Rehabilitation, Taipei Medical University Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan (J-HK); Graduate Institute of Nanomedicine and Medical Engineering, College of BioMedical Engineering, Taipei Medical University, Taipei, Taiwan (J-HK); Department of Orthopedics, School of Medicine, College of Medicine, Taipei Medical University, Taipei, Taiwan (C-HL); Department of Orthopedics, Taipei Medical University Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan (C-HL); Department of Neurology, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital Linkou Medical Center and Chang Gung University, College of Medicine, Taoyuan, Taiwan (C-HL); Division of Pediatric Hematology/Oncology, Department of Pediatrics, Shuang Ho Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan (S-HC); Department of Pediatrics, School of Medicine, College of Medicine, Taipei Medical University, Taipei, Taiwan (S-HC, Y-LL, W-LH, C-YC); Division of Pediatric Hematology/Oncology, Department of Pediatrics, Taipei Medical University Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan (Y-LL, W-LH, C-YC); Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Hematology/Oncology, Taipei Medical University Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan (J-RT); Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Hematology/Oncology, Cheng Hsin General Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan (C-HT); Department of Pediatrics, Cheng Hsin General Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan (M-MC); and Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care, Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center at Shreveport, Louisiana (PC).
Objective:
The aim of the study is to evaluate the muscle thickness and walking test in people with hemophilia A and their correlation to joint health and functional impairments.
Design:
This is a cross-sectional study.
Results:
Twenty-nine severe/moderate people with hemophilia A were enrolled. Muscle thickness of quadriceps and medial gastrocnemius was measured using ultrasound. Joint health and functional capacity were assessed using Hemophilia Joint Health Score, Hemophilia Early Arthropathy Detection with Ultrasound, 6-Minute Walking test, Hemophilia Quality of Life Questionnaire for Adults, and Hemophilia Activities List. Quadriceps muscle thickness significantly correlated with Hemophilia Joint Health Score knee, Hemophilia Early Arthropathy Detection with Ultrasound knee, and Hemophilia Activities List. Calf muscle thickness significantly correlated with the Hemophilia Joint Health Score ankle. After adjusted age and body mass index, calf muscle thickness was inversely associated with the Hemophilia Joint Health Score ankle. Six-Minute Walking test was found to significantly correlate with Hemophilia Joint Health Score total, Hemophilia Early Arthropathy Detection with Ultrasound total, Hemophilia Quality of Life Questionnaire for Adults, and Hemophilia Activities List.
Conclusions:
Muscle thickness and the distance of 6-Minute Walking Test were linked to assessment of joint health, quality of life, and activity participation in people with hemophilia A. Ultrasound measurement of muscle thickness and walking test seem to be useful tools for the assessment of joint health and functional status in people with hemophilia A.
