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Updated: Jan 9, 2026

Quantitative Magnetic Resonance Imaging of Skeletal Muscle Disease
Published on: December 18, 2016
"Muscle quality": rethinking an imprecise term
Jarson P Costa-Pereira1, M Cristina Gonzalez2, Alfonso J Cruz-Jentoft3
1Postgraduate Program in Nutrition, Department of Nutrition, Federal University of Pernambuco, Recife, PE, Brazil.
None:
The term "muscle quality" is widely used in both research and clinical settings, yet a universally accepted definition currently does not exist. Studies addressing "muscle quality" encompass a broad range of functional and morphological characteristics of skeletal muscle, leading to inconsistent interpretations. Aligning with global efforts to adopt standardized and precise terminology, this paper aims to clarify the most frequently assessed parameters under the umbrella of "muscle quality", describe the accurate definitions, and emphasize their clinical significance. Establishing a future unified framework and terminology will be essential for advancing research, ensuring comparability across studies, and reinforcing the clinical applicability of muscle health assessments. Until then, muscle composition, muscle architecture, and muscle-specific strength may serve as appropriate terms to describe the morphological and functional aspects, respectively.
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