Highlights
- •Supraspinatus muscle elasticity at 0° and 60° shoulder abduction varies by age.
- •Elasticity reference ranges were determined using an age of 50 years as the cut-off.
- •The reference ranges may serve as a preliminary baseline after rotator cuff repair.
Abstract
Background
The quantitative assessment of healthy supraspinatus muscle elasticity may provide
clinically useful preliminary information after rotator cuff repairs. We aimed to
determine the reference range for supraspinatus muscle semi-quantified elasticity
and describe how it can be used clinically after rotator cuff repair.
Methods
The elasticity of healthy bilateral supraspinatus muscles in 43 participants aged
between 24 and 75 years (categorized into two subgroups: <50 and ≥ 50 years) was measured
as a strain ratio at 0° and 60° of shoulder abduction using real-time tissue elastography.
The reference and modified reference ranges calculated by excluding outliers for elasticity
were determined using normal distribution methods for logarithmically transformed
data. The modified reference range was applied to eight cases of rotator cuff repair.
Findings
Strain ratios under and over 50 years of age were 1.63 vs. 2.21 at 0° of shoulder
abduction (P = 0.028) and 0.92 vs. 1.29 at 60° of shoulder abduction (P = 0.002), respectively. Modified reference ranges for under and over 50 years of
age were 0.72–4.17 and 0.98–4.50 at 0° of shoulder abduction and 0.38–1.95 and 0.56–2.76
at 60° of shoulder abduction, respectively. Among eight cases, two showed strain ratios
above the reference range at 1 month postoperatively, and rehabilitation protocols
were adjusted.
Interpretation
A strain ratio above the reference range, especially above the upper limit at 0° of
shoulder abduction, may indicate increased passive stiffness of the musculotendinous
unit. Clinically, the reference range has the potential to be used as a baseline after
rotator cuff repairs.
Keywords
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Article info
Publication history
Published online: March 16, 2023
Accepted:
March 15,
2023
Received:
September 30,
2022
Identification
Copyright
© 2023 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
