Using Shear Wave Elastography for Morphofunctional Analysis of Abdominal Muscles: A Scoping Review

Area of Science:

• Biomechanics
• Medical Imaging
• Musculoskeletal Ultrasound

Background:

• Shear Wave Elastography (SWE) is an advanced ultrasound technique measuring tissue mechanical properties.
• Abdominal muscles, including the transversus abdominis, obliques, and rectus abdominis, are crucial for core stability and function.
• Understanding muscle stiffness non-invasively is vital for clinical and sports science applications.

Purpose of the Study:

• To conduct a scoping review of current research on Shear Wave Elastography (SWE) for analyzing abdominal muscles.
• To evaluate the methodologies and findings of studies investigating abdominal muscle stiffness using SWE.
• To identify current trends, limitations, and future directions in SWE application for abdominal musculature.

Main Methods:

• Adherence to PRISMA-ScR guidelines for the scoping review process.
• Comprehensive literature search across multiple databases (PubMed, Medline, SPORTDiscus, Scopus, Web of Science, Cinahl) in April 2024.
• Rigorous study selection by two independent reviewers, with discrepancies resolved by a third reviewer, focusing on peer-reviewed studies of adult abdominal muscles.

Main Results:

• Eleven studies were included, analyzing the transversus abdominis, obliques, and rectus abdominis.
• Resting transversus abdominis stiffness showed significant variability (1.45–2.3 m/s), often lower in healthy individuals.
• Resting oblique muscles exhibited more consistent values (internal oblique: 1.40–1.54 m/s; external oblique: 1.79–1.89 m/s in healthy adults), increasing with activity. Rectus abdominis values ranged from 1.61 m/s (women) to 2.07 m/s (active young individuals).

Conclusions:

• Shear Wave Elastography presents a promising non-invasive tool for assessing abdominal muscle stiffness.
• Significant variability in reported SWE values and lack of methodological standardization were identified as key limitations.
• Further research with standardized protocols is recommended to enhance the accuracy and clinical utility of SWE for abdominal muscle assessment.