Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jan 13, 2026
06:59
In Vivo Evaluation of the Mechanical and Viscoelastic Properties of the Rat Tongue
Published on: July 6, 2017
9.2K
Quantitative Assessment of Extrinsic Tongue Muscle Stiffness in Obstructive Sleep Apnea Using Shear Wave Elastography
Hilal Er Ulubaba1, Nurullah Dağ1, Sevgi Demiröz Taşolar1
1Department of Radiology, Inonu University, Malatya 44280, Turkey.
Diagnostics (Basel, Switzerland)
|January 10, 2026
Summary
Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA) increases genioglossus and geniohyoid muscle stiffness, not thickness. Geniohyoid muscle stiffness correlates with OSA severity, suggesting these stiffness changes are potential noninvasive markers for OSA.
Area of Science:
- Medical Imaging
- Sleep Medicine
- Musculoskeletal Ultrasound
Background:
- Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA) is a common disorder affecting muscle function.
- Noninvasive methods are needed to assess muscle changes in OSA patients.
Purpose of the Study:
- To quantitatively evaluate changes in genioglossus (GG) and geniohyoid (GH) muscles in OSA patients.
- To assess muscle thickness and stiffness using ultrasonography (US) and shear wave elastography (SWE).
Main Methods:
- Prospective study of 94 adults (27 normal, 67 OSA).
- Measured GG and GH muscle thickness with US and stiffness with SWE.
- Classified OSA severity by apnea-hypopnea index (AHI).
Main Results:
- No significant differences in GG or GH muscle thickness between groups.
- Significantly higher GG and GH muscle stiffness in OSA patients compared to non-OSA individuals.
- Geniohyoid muscle stiffness increased with OSA severity.
Conclusions:
- Muscle thickness of GG and GH remains unchanged in OSA patients.
- Increased stiffness of GG and GH muscles is observed in OSA.
- GH muscle stiffness progression with OSA severity suggests potential as a noninvasive biomarker.
