An investigation into an objective measure of muscle ability
Research type
Research Study
Full title
An investigation into an objective measure of muscle quality, function and ability.
IRAS ID
266115
Contact name
Stephanie Wentworth
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
Cardiff and Vale UHB
Duration of Study in the UK
1 years, 7 months, 1 days
Research summary
Research Summary:
The aim of the study is to test whether a measurement of muscle ability and function can be done more objectively; that is, whether it can be done without the person being tested influencing it consciously or unconsciously. The measurement carried out on healthy volunteers of all ages, can help us to understand if this is possible and will help us understand more about the quality of the muscles and their ability. It then has the potential to then be used with patients who have muscle diseases.Lay Summary of Results:
Assessment of muscle health is important in many areas of health. The ability to objectively measure muscle health would provide scientific support for clinical decisions, for example in neurology when needing to differentiate between weakness and poor endurance. This work examines current measurement techniques and explores their objectivity and practicality in clinical and community settings. Active methods of measuring muscle health require the patient to activate or contract their muscles. Passive methods have the advantage of being applicable to a wider range of patients. Electrical impedance myography (EIM) was identified as an objective measurement technique that has the potential to inform muscle health in both the clinical and community setting.
Healthy volunteers were recruited into a single study group. The impedance of upper right limb, biceps brachii muscle, was measured when relaxed, and when activated using a multiple frequency bioimpedance meter (ImpediMed IMPTM SFB7). Measurements of resistance and reactance enabled calculation of the impedance and phase angle.
Results and the literature indicate that EIM is easy to use and it was demonstrated to be an objective measurement technique. Paired t-test, t = 4.56, p ≤ 0.01 indicated a significant difference in impedance between active and passive muscle in the small group (n=25) measured and a positive trend of age and increasing impedance was seen, Pearson correlation r = 0.60. A negative trend between age and phase angle was also observed, Pearson correlation r = -0.68. Trends in EIM measurements indicate a possible application to measurement of muscle degradation.
A larger clinical trial of healthy volunteers would help consolidate the findings presented here.REC name
Yorkshire & The Humber - South Yorkshire Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
20/YH/0055
Date of REC Opinion
11 Feb 2020
REC opinion
Favourable Opinion