Rectus Femoris Echo Intensity Correlates with Muscle Strength, but Not Endurance, in Younger and Older Men

Abstract

We examined correlations between echo intensity and muscle strength and endurance. Rectus femoris echo intensity, maximal voluntary contraction (MVC) force and time to task failure during a 50% MVC task were determined for 12 younger (mean age = 25 y) and 13 older (mean age = 74 y) men. Bivariate correlations between echo intensity and normalized MVC force were similar for younger and older men, but was only statistically significant for the latter (younger r = -0.559, p = 0.059; older r = -0.580, p = 0.038). When all patients were combined, the correlation was significant (r = -0.733, p < 0.001). Significant correlations were not observed for time to task failure (younger r = -0.382, p = 0.221; older r = -0.347, p = 0.246; all patients r = -0.229, p = 0.270). Rectus femoris echo intensity is associated with muscle strength, but not endurance, in younger and older men.

Keywords: Dynapenia; Maximal voluntary contraction; Muscle quality; Quadriceps femoris; Ultrasonography.