Relationship between Muscle Cross-Sectional Area by MRI and Muscle Thickness by Ultrasonography of the Triceps Surae in the Sitting Position

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to determine the differences in the muscle cross-sectional area (MCSA) of the triceps surae in the supine and sitting positions using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), and the relationship between the MCSA of the triceps surae in the sitting position and muscle thickness (MT), assessed using MRI and ultrasonography, respectively. This study included 16 healthy young male participants. The measurement positions were 90° flexion of the knee joint and neutral position of the ankle joint in the sitting or supine positions. Using an open-configuration MRI system with a vertical gap and ultrasonography, we measured the MCSA and MT of the soleus muscle and the medial and lateral heads of the gastrocnemius muscle at three selected locations in the ventral part of the muscle. As a result, the 50% portion of the soleus muscle and the 25% and 50% portions of the gastrocnemius medial and lateral heads were higher in the sitting position than in the supine position. Furthermore, only 50% of the gastrocnemius medial head showed a correlation between the MCSA and MT. When using the MT of the triceps surae as an indicator of muscle volume in the sitting position, the muscle site should be considered.