Assessment of post-stroke biceps brachialis muscle stiffness by shear-wave elastography: A pilot study

Abstract

Objectives. Spasticity following stroke tend to increase muscle stiffness. Recent clinical measures of post-stroke biceps brachialis muscle spasticity are subjective. We aimed to measure post-stroke biceps brachialis muscle stiffness quantitatively by using shear-wave elastography (SWE). Methods. This prospective study included 24 post-stroke patients with unilateral biceps brachialis muscle spasticity. The Modified Ashworth Scale of the biceps muscle, Brunnstrom stages of the upper extremity of the patients were evaluated as the clinical outcomes. Biceps brachialis muscle stiffness was compared among affected and non-affected upper extremities by SWE. The correlations between SWE findings and clinical outcomes were analyzed. Results. Shear Wave Velocity (SWV) on the spastic side did not show any significant differences from those on the non-spastic side (p>0.05). SWV findings were not correlated with clinical outcomes (r ≤ 0.3, p>0.05). Conclusions. Biceps brachialis muscle stiffness was found similar among the affected and non-affected extremities. In addition, SWV was not correlated with clinical outcomes. SWE may not be helpful in detecting the changes in biceps muscle stiffness following stroke.