The aim of this review is to summarize the recent developments in strain imaging, an evolving technique - from tissue Doppler to 3D echocardiography - for resolving the complex left ventricular mechanics. Following a brief overview of the different used technique to extract myocardial deformation data, the authors summarize the role of the technique in the assessment of cardiac mechanics and its role in the clinical arena.
Keywords: Cardiac mechanics; clinical application; speckle tracking; strain echocardiography.