Determination of muscle shape deformations of the tibialis anterior during dynamic contractions using 3D ultrasound.

Purpose: In this paper, we introduce a novel method for determining 3D deformations of the human tibialis anterior (TA) muscle during dynamic movements using 3D ultrasound.

Materials And Methods: An existing automated 3D ultrasound system is used for data acquisition, which consists of three moveable axes, along which the probe can move. While the subjects perform continuous plantar- and dorsiflexion movements in two different controlled velocities, the ultrasound probe sweeps cyclically from the ankle to the knee along the anterior shin.

3D ultrasound-based determination of skeletal muscle fascicle orientations.

Architectural parameters of skeletal muscle such as pennation angle provide valuable information on muscle function, since they can be related to the muscle force generating capacity, fiber packing, and contraction velocity. In this paper, we introduce a 3D ultrasound-based workflow for determining 3D fascicle orientations of skeletal muscles. We used a custom-designed automated motor driven 3D ultrasound scanning system for obtaining 3D ultrasound images.

A System for Reproducible 3D Ultrasound Measurements of Skeletal Muscles.

In 3D freehand ultrasound imaging, operator dependent variations in applied forces and movements can lead to errors in the reconstructed images. In this paper, we introduce an automated 3D ultrasound system, which enables acquisitions with controlled movement trajectories by using motors, which electrically move the probe. Due to integrated encoders there is no need of position sensors.

Dynamic 3D Ultrasound Imaging of the Tibialis Anterior Muscle.

Skeletal muscle volume has been mainly investigated under static conditions, i.e. isometric contractions.

Comparative Study of a Biomechanical Model-based and Black-box Approach for Subject-Specific Movement Prediction.

The performance and safety of human robot interaction (HRI) can be improved by using subject-specific movement prediction. Typical models include biomechanical (parametric) or black-box (non-parametric) models. The current work aims to investigate the benefits and drawbacks of these approaches by comparing elbow-joint torque predictions based on electromyography signals of the elbow flexors and extensors.

Correction: Soleus muscle weakness in cerebral palsy: Muscle architecture revealed with Diffusion Tensor Imaging.

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.

Soleus muscle weakness in cerebral palsy: Muscle architecture revealed with Diffusion Tensor Imaging.

Cerebral palsy (CP) is associated with movement disorders and reduced muscle size. This latter phenomenon has been observed by computing muscle volumes from conventional MRI, with most studies reporting significantly reduced volumes in leg muscles. This indicates impaired muscle growth, but without knowing muscle fiber orientation, it is not clear whether muscle growth in CP is impaired in the along-fiber direction (indicating shortened muscles and limited range of motion) or the cross-fiber direction (indicating weak muscles and impaired strength).