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The impact of hypermobility spectrum disorders on musculoskeletal tissue stiffness: an exploration using strain elastography

Alsiri, Najla; Al-Obaidi, Saud; Asbeutah, Akram; Almandeel, Mariam; Palmer, Shea

Authors

Najla Alsiri

Saud Al-Obaidi

Akram Asbeutah

Mariam Almandeel

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Shea Palmer Shea.Palmer@uwe.ac.uk
Occasional Associate Lecturer - CHSS - HSW



Abstract

© 2018, International League of Associations for Rheumatology (ILAR). Hypermobility spectrum disorders (HSDs) are conditions associated with chronic joint pain and laxity. HSD’s diagnostic approach is highly subjective, its validity is not well studied, and it does not consider many of the most commonly affected joints. Strain elastography (SEL) reflects musculoskeletal elasticity with sonographic images. The study explored the impact of HSD on musculoskeletal elasticity using SEL. A cross-sectional design compared 21 participants with HSD against 22 controls. SEL was used to assess the elasticity of the deltoid, biceps brachii, brachioradialis, rectus femoris, and gastrocnemius muscles, and the patellar and Achilles tendon. SEL images were analyzed using strain index, strain ratio, and color pixels. Mean strain index (standard deviation) was significantly reduced in the HSD group compared to the control group in the brachioradialis muscle 0.43 (0.10) vs. 0.59 (0.24), patellar 0.30 (0.10) vs. 0.44 (0.11), and Achilles tendons 0.24 (0.06) vs. 0.49 (0.13). Brachioradialis muscle and patellar tendon’s strain ratios were significantly lower in the HSD group compared to the control group, 6.02 (2.11) vs. 8.68 (2.67) and 5.18 (1.67) vs. 7.62 (1.88), respectively. The percentages (%) of red color (soft tissues) in the SEL images were significantly increased in the HSD group compared to the control group in the biceps brachii muscle, 34.72 (7.82) vs. 26.69 (3.89), and Achilles tendon, 18.14 (13.21) vs. 5.59 (8.23) (p ≤ 0.01). The elasticity of the musculoskeletal system seems to be lower in people with HSD. SEL could be a supplementary tool for diagnosing and monitoring HSD.

Citation

Alsiri, N., Al-Obaidi, S., Asbeutah, A., Almandeel, M., & Palmer, S. (2019). The impact of hypermobility spectrum disorders on musculoskeletal tissue stiffness: an exploration using strain elastography. Clinical Rheumatology, 38(1), 85-95. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10067-018-4193-0

Journal Article Type Article
Acceptance Date Jun 26, 2018
Online Publication Date Jul 3, 2018
Publication Date Jan 18, 2019
Deposit Date Jun 28, 2018
Publicly Available Date Mar 28, 2024
Journal Clinical Rheumatology
Print ISSN 0770-3198
Electronic ISSN 1434-9949
Publisher Springer Verlag
Peer Reviewed Peer Reviewed
Volume 38
Issue 1
Pages 85-95
DOI https://doi.org/10.1007/s10067-018-4193-0
Keywords Hypermobility Spectrum Disorders, strain elastography, muscle, tendon, Joint Hypermobility Syndrome, diagnosis
Public URL https://uwe-repository.worktribe.com/output/854432
Publisher URL https://doi.org/10.1007/s10067-018-4193-0
Additional Information Additional Information : This is a post-peer-review, pre-copyedit version of an article published in Clinical Rheumatology. The final authenticated version is available online at: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10067-018-4193-0.