Table 1 Methodological characteristics of studies
From: Ultrasound elastography in the assessment of post-stroke muscle stiffness: a systematic review
Author | Elastography | Title | Muscle | Contraction | Participants | System | Transducer | Measured |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Lee et al. 2014 [42] | SWE | Measurement of Altered Muscle Properties in Stroke-impaired Muscle Using Shear Wave Ultrasound Elastography | * | * | 16 | * | * | SWV (m/s) |
Kesikburun et al. 2015 [34] | Strain | Assessment of Spasticity With Sonoelastography Following Stroke: A Feasibility Study | GM GL | Passive rest | 26 | GE Logiq S7 | 5–12 Linear | Elasticity Index and Ratio |
Lee et al. 2015 [48] | SWE | Quantifying changes in material properties of stroke-impaired muscle | BB | Passive rest with EMG | 16 | SSI Aixplorer | 4–15 SuperLinear | SWV (m/s) |
Mathevon et al. 2015 [50] | SWE | Reliability of 2D ultrasound imaging associated with transient ShearWave Elastography method to analyze spastic gastrocnemius medialis muscle architecture and viscoelastic properties | GM | Passive rest and at maximal passive stretch by goniometer | 14 | SSI Aixplorer | * | Shear modulus (kPa) |
Park & Kwon 2015 [35] | Strain | Sonoelastographic Findings According to Spasticity of Elbow Flexor in Post-Stroke Hemiplegia | BB and Brachialis | * | 19 | * | * | Median red, blue and hue pixel intensity of histograms |
Eby et al. 2016 [28] | SWE | Quantitative Evaluation of Passive Muscle Stiffness in Chronic Stroke | BB | Passive extension with EMG | 9P 4C | Verasonics | L7-4 Philips | Shear modulus (kPa) |
Yaşar et al. 2016 [32] | Strain | Assessment of forearm muscle spasticity with sonoelastography in patients with stroke | FDS FDP FCR FCU | Passive rest | 23 | GE Logiq S7 | 5–12 Linear | Elasticity Index and ratio |
Rasool et al. 2016 [54] | SWE | Altered Viscoelastic Properties of Stroke-Affected Muscles Estimated Using Ultrasound Shear Waves – Preliminary Data | BB | Passive with EMG | 3 | SSI Aixplorer | 4–15 SuperLinear | SWV (m/s) |
Jakubowski et al. 2017 [37] | SWE | Passive material properties of stroke-impaired plantarflexor and dorsiflexor muscles | GM TA | Passive rest and passive stretch by dynamometer | 14 | SSI Aixplorer | 4–15 SuperLinear | SWV (m/s) |
Wu et al. 2017 [29] | SWE | Evaluation of Post-stroke Spastic Muscle Stiffness using Shear Wave Ultrasound Elastography | BB | Passive with EMG | 31P 21C | Siemens Acuson S2000 | 9L4 | SWV (m/s) |
Aşkın et al. 2017 [55] | Strain | Strain sonoelastographic evaluation of biceps muscle intrinsic stiffness after botulinum toxin-A injection | BB | Passive | 48 | Toshiba Aplio 500 | 8–12 Linear | Strain Index |
Eby et al. 2017 [26] | SWE | Quantifying spasticity in individual muscles using shear wave elastography | BB & Brachialis | Passive extension by dynamometer | 1 | Verasonics | L7-4 Philips | SWV (m/s) |
Gao, Chen, et al. 2018 [43] | Strain | Ultrasound Strain Imaging to Assess the Biceps Brachii Muscle in Chronic Poststroke Spasticity | BB | Passive rest and passive extension | 7P 8C | Siemens Acuson S3000 | 9L4 | Strain Ratio |
Gao, He, et al. 2018 [44] | SWE | Quantitative Ultrasound Imaging to Assess the Biceps Brachii Muscle in Chronic Post-Stroke Spasticity: Preliminary Observation | BB | Passive | 7P 8C | Siemens Acuson S3000 | 9L4 | SWV (m/s) |
Hong et al. 2018 [30] | Strain | Quantitative Evaluation of Post-stroke Spasticity Using Neurophysiological and Radiological Tools: A Pilot Study | GM | Passive | 8 | GE Logiq S9 | 9–15 Linear | Elasticity Index |
Mathevon et al. 2018 [38] | SWE | Two-Dimensional and Shear Wave Elastography Ultrasound: A Reliable Method to Analyse Spastic Muscles? | GM TA | Passive | 14 | SSI Aixplorer | 4–15 SuperLinear | Shear modulus (kPa) |
Rasool et al. 2018 [49] | SWE | Shear Waves Reveal Viscoelastic Changes in Skeletal Muscles After Hemispheric Stroke | BB | Passive with EMG | 13 | SSI Aixplorer | 4–15 SuperLinear | SWV (m/s) |
Saadat et al. 2018 [45] | SWE | Frequency Dependence of Shear Wave Velocity in Stroke-Affected Muscles During Isometric Contraction- Preliminary Data | BB | Isometric contraction with EMG | 3 | SSI Aixplorer | 4–15 SuperLinear | SWV (m/s) |
Galvão et al. 2019 [33] | SWE | Quantitative Analysis of Intrinsic Muscle Stiffness in Biceps Brachii of Post-stroke Patients | BB | Passive | 10 | SSI Aixplorer | SL10-2 | Shear modulus (kPa) |
Gao et al. 2019 [56] | SWE and Strain | Ultrasound Elastography to Assess Botulinum Toxin A Treatment for Post-Stroke Spasticity: A Feasibility Study | BB | Passive | 7 | Siemens Acuson S3000 | 9L4 | SWV (m/s) and strain ratio |
Lee et al. 2019 [47] | SWE | Muscle material properties in passive and active stroke-impaired muscle | BB | Isometric contraction with EMG | 14P 8 C | SSI Aixplorer | * | SWV (m/s) |
Le Sant et al. 2019 [40] | SWE | Effects of stroke injury on the shear modulus of the lower leg muscle during passive dorsiflexion | GM GL SOL FDL FHL TA EDL | Passive stretch with EMG | 14P 13 C | SSI Aixplorer | SL10-2 or SL15-4 | Shear modulus (kPa) |
Leng et al. 2019 [36] | SWE | Alterations of Elastic Property of Spastic Muscle With Its Joint Resistance Evaluated From Shear Wave Elastography and Biomechanical Model | FCR | Passive stretch with EMG | 15 | SSI Aixplorer | 4–15 SuperLinear | Shear modulus (kPa) |
Liu et al. 2020 [27] | SWE | The Value of Real-Time Shear Wave Elastography before and after Rehabilitation of Upper Limb Spasm in Stroke Patients | BB | Passive | 60 | GE Logiq E9 | 9L | SWV (m/s) and Young’s Modulus |
Huang et al. 2020 [39] | SWE | Whole-body vibration modulates leg muscle reflex and blood perfusion among people with chronic stroke: a randomized controlled crossover trial | GM SOL | Passive | 36 | SSI Aixplorer | 4–15 SuperLinear | Shear modulus (kPa) |
Analan & Ozdemir 2020 [51] | SWE | Assessment of Post-Stroke Biceps Brachialis Muscle Stiffness by Shear-Wave Elastography: a Pilot Study | BB | Passive | 24 | Siemens Acuson S2000 | L9-4 | SWV (m/s) |
Furukawa & Masakado 2021 [41] | Strain | Changes in Sonoelastography After Using Botulinum Toxin Type A for the Treatment of the Patients with Post-stroke Spasticity: Report of 2 Cases | BB GM | Passive | 2 | Hi Vision Ascendus, Hitachi Aloka Medical | EUP-L65 6-14Â MHz | Strain Ratio |
YoldaÅŸ Aslan et al. 2021 [31] | Strain | Does extracorporeal shock wave therapy decrease spasticity of ankle plantar flexor muscles in patients with stroke: A randomized controlled trial | G | Passive | 17 Act 17 Sh 17 C | GE Logiq S7 | ML6-15 | Strain Index |
Liu et al. 2021 [46] | SWE | Quantitative Ultrasound Texture Analysis to Assess the Spastic Muscles in Stroke Patients | BB | Passive | 22 | Siemens Acuson S2000 | L9-4 | SWV (m/s) |