Skeletal muscle contraction: analysis with use of velocity distributions from phase-contrast MR imaging

Velocity gradient data from phase-contrast magnetic resonance (MR) imaging were tested for the ability to calculate tensile strain and shear strain (deformation) during cyclical motion of skeletal muscle.

Strain data were derived from in vitro and in vivo phase-contrast MR velocity maps. A motion phantom designed to cyclically compress and expand a specimen of skeletal muscle provided a standard of reference to validate deformation, translation, and rotation measurements. The authors studied anterior and posterior muscle compartments of the lower extremity in three healthy volunteers during ankle dorsiflexion and plantar flexion against various resistances and the forearms of five healthy volunteers during flexion and extension of the fingers.

The mean in vitro tracking error was 0.5 mm. The gastrocnemius muscle area in vivo changed 20% for both the minimum and maximum force conditions and therefore did not appear to be a good predictor of force.

Phase-contrast MR imaging provides quantitative data on muscle contraction and demonstrates that shear and tensile strain can be measured and separated from translation and rotation of muscle.