Visual measurement method for gastrocnemius muscle motion parameters based on ultrasonic tissue Doppler

Abstract

The invention belongs to the technical field of gastrocnemius muscle strength measurement, and provides a gastrocnemius muscle motion parameter visual measurement method based on ultrasonic tissue Doppler, and the method comprises the steps: posture guidance, probe placement, horizontal outward movement, probe rotation, angle adjustment, action execution, sampling frame determination, and oscillogram collection. According to the method, interference factors such as the probe position, the motion mode and the motion frequency in a traditional method are avoided by referring to the popliteal artery short-axis ultrasonic section and combining 90-degree rotation, the stability and repeatability of a measurement result are remarkably improved, and the core requirements of clinical instant evaluation and dynamic monitoring of a motion scene can be met.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to the field of gastrocnemius muscle strength measurement technology, and in particular to a method for visually measuring gastrocnemius muscle movement parameters based on ultrasound tissue Doppler. Background Technology

[0002] The gastrocnemius muscle, as a core muscle group on the back of the calf, plays a crucial role in lower limb movement: during walking, it provides propulsion through contraction, maintaining upright balance; in dynamic movements such as running and jumping, its strength directly affects exercise efficiency and explosive power; daily activities such as climbing stairs and standing up also rely on the coordinated force of the gastrocnemius and soleus muscles. Measuring gastrocnemius muscle strength has significant value: in the clinical field, it can assist in the diagnosis and lesion localization of neuromuscular diseases such as stroke, spinal cord injury, and sarcopenia. For example, decreased gastrocnemius muscle strength in stroke patients is often accompanied by spasticity, and muscle strength assessment can determine the extent of nerve damage; it can dynamically monitor changes in the condition, for example, regular muscle strength testing in sarcopenia patients can track the rate of muscle loss; it can also guide the development of treatment and rehabilitation training programs, adjusting the resistance of rehabilitation equipment and optimizing training movements according to the degree of muscle strength recovery; at the same time, muscle strength level is also a core indicator for assessing patient prognosis and daily living ability. Those with adequate muscle strength are more likely to achieve independent walking and reduce the risk of falls. In the field of sports, gastrocnemius muscle strength measurement can assess muscle capacity, monitor muscle fatigue after exercise, and determine recovery time based on the degree of muscle strength decline; provide early warning of potential movement limitations or injury risks due to insufficient gastrocnemius muscle strength; promptly detect early sports injuries, such as muscle asymmetry caused by overtraining; evaluate training effectiveness by comparing changes in gastrocnemius muscle strength across different training cycles to verify the effectiveness of training programs; and provide data support for the development of personalized training plans for athletes, such as designing targeted strength training based on the explosive power characteristics of the gastrocnemius muscles in sprinters.

[0003] Currently, gastrocnemius muscle strength measurement relies heavily on indirect assessment methods. While these methods can reflect muscle strength status to some extent, they have significant limitations: Electromyography (EMG) indirectly correlates muscle strength by recording parameters such as peak and frequency of EMG signals, but the signals are easily affected by skin condition and electrode placement, and cannot directly quantify muscle strength; the ratio of H-wave peak value to M-wave peak value in the tibial nerve H-reflex (Hmax / Mmax) reflects the excitability of anterior horn motor neurons in the spinal cord and is mainly used for spasticity assessment, making it difficult to accurately correspond to actual muscle strength levels; gait tests indirectly infer gastrocnemius function based on a 6-meter walking speed, but this is affected by factors such as the subject's gait habits and balance ability, resulting in low specificity; balance and motor function scales, such as the Comprehensive Gastrocnemius Spasticity Scale (CSS), rely on subjective scoring, and the consistency of the results is easily influenced by the assessor's experience, and they cannot capture dynamic changes in muscle strength. A common drawback of these methods is that they cannot visualize and monitor changes in muscle strength during gastrocnemius muscle contraction in real time, making it difficult to meet the clinical needs for immediate assessment of the condition and dynamic monitoring of muscle function in movement scenarios. Summary of the Invention

[0004] To overcome the shortcomings of existing technologies, the purpose of this invention is to provide a visualization measurement method for gastrocnemius muscle movement parameters based on ultrasound tissue Doppler, which solves the problems of existing methods being unable to directly quantify muscle strength and monitor it in real time, making it difficult to accurately correspond to actual muscle strength levels, and relying on subjective scoring.

[0005] To achieve the above objectives, the present invention provides the following solution: A method for visually measuring gastrocnemius muscle motion parameters based on ultrasound tissue Doppler includes: Guide the examinee to sit on the examination stool, and place the Achilles tendon on the examined side of the examinee on the footrest for fixation; The patch ultrasound probe is placed in the popliteal fossa of the subject with the head facing outward and the tail facing inward to collect data and obtain ultrasound images; When the ultrasound image shows the morphology and position of the popliteal artery short-axis ultrasound section, the patch ultrasound probe is moved horizontally outward by a set distance; the set distance ranges from 1cm to 1.5cm. With the head end as the center, when testing the left leg of the subject, the patch ultrasonic probe is rotated 90° clockwise, and when testing the right leg of the subject, the patch ultrasonic probe is rotated 90° counterclockwise. When the ultrasound image shows that the gastrocnemius muscle presents as feathery fibers distributed at an angle, the direction of the patch ultrasound probe is adjusted to be consistent with the distribution direction of the gastrocnemius muscle. Guide the subject to perform the measurement action under the prompt tone, and set the sampling frame at the point of maximum muscle fiber movement based on the acquired ultrasound image; The ultrasonic sampling angle of the patch ultrasonic probe is adjusted to a preset sampling angle, and motion waveforms are acquired according to a preset motion mode to obtain the visual measurement results of gastrocnemius muscle motion parameters.

[0006] Preferably, the probe position determination method includes: referencing the popliteal artery short-axis ultrasound section, moving horizontally outward by a set distance, and then rotating 90°.

[0007] Preferably, the measuring action includes: ankle plantar flexion.

[0008] Preferably, the prompt tone is an audio signal with a fixed frequency.

[0009] Preferably, the preset sampling angle is less than 60°.

[0010] Preferably, the exercise mode involves 40 ankle plantar flexion movements per cycle, accompanied by a 50Hz beep.

[0011] Preferably, the visualization measurement results of the gastrocnemius muscle motion parameters include: a waveform diagram of the concentric contraction motion of the gastrocnemius muscle and a waveform diagram of the eccentric contraction motion of the gastrocnemius muscle.

[0012] The present invention discloses the following technical effects: This invention provides a visualization measurement method for gastrocnemius muscle motion parameters based on ultrasound tissue Doppler. By using the short-axis ultrasound section of the popliteal artery as a reference, the probe is moved horizontally outward by a set distance and rotated 90°. This solves the problem of interference factors such as probe position, movement mode, and movement frequency in traditional methods, and improves the stability and repeatability of the results. Attached Figure Description

[0013] To more clearly illustrate the technical solutions in the embodiments of the present invention or the prior art, the drawings used in the embodiments will be briefly introduced below. Obviously, the drawings described below are only some embodiments of the present invention. For those skilled in the art, other drawings can be obtained based on these drawings without creative effort.

[0014] Figure 1 A schematic diagram of the visualization measurement process of gastrocnemius muscle motion parameters based on ultrasound tissue Doppler provided in an embodiment of the present invention; Figure 2 The subject's body position during measurement is provided in the embodiments of the present invention; Figure 3 This is a schematic diagram illustrating the placement of the patch ultrasound probe in the popliteal fossa of the subject's left leg and its rotation clockwise by 90°, as provided in an embodiment of the present invention. Figure 4 The waveform diagrams of the concentric contraction and eccentric contraction of the gastrocnemius muscle, measured at position 1, are provided in the embodiments of the present invention. Figure 5 The waveforms of the concentric contraction and eccentric contraction of the gastrocnemius muscle, measured at position two, are provided in the embodiments of the present invention. Detailed Implementation

[0015] The technical solutions of the embodiments of the present invention will be clearly and completely described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. Obviously, the described embodiments are only some embodiments of the present invention, and not all embodiments. Based on the embodiments of the present invention, all other embodiments obtained by those skilled in the art without creative effort are within the scope of protection of the present invention.

[0016] The purpose of this invention is to provide a visualization measurement method for gastrocnemius muscle movement parameters based on ultrasound tissue Doppler, which solves the problems of existing methods being unable to directly quantify muscle strength and monitor it in real time, making it difficult to accurately correspond to the actual muscle strength level, and relying on subjective scoring.

[0017] To make the above-mentioned objects, features and advantages of the present invention more apparent and understandable, the present invention will be further described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings and specific embodiments.

[0018] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the visualization measurement process for gastrocnemius muscle motion parameters based on ultrasound tissue Doppler, provided in an embodiment of the present invention. Figure 1 As shown, this invention provides a method for visually measuring gastrocnemius muscle motion parameters based on ultrasound tissue Doppler, comprising: Step 100: Guide the examinee to sit on the examination stool, and place the Achilles tendon of the examinee on the side being examined on the footrest for fixation; Step 200: Place the patch ultrasound probe in the popliteal fossa of the subject with the head facing outward and the tail facing inward to acquire data and obtain ultrasound images; Step 300: When the ultrasound image shows the morphology and position of the popliteal artery short-axis ultrasound section, move the patch ultrasound probe horizontally outward by a set distance; the set distance is in the range of 1cm to 1.5cm. Step 400: With the head end as the center, when testing the left leg of the subject, rotate the patch ultrasound probe 90° clockwise, and when testing the right leg of the subject, rotate the patch ultrasound probe 90° counterclockwise. Step 500: When the ultrasound image shows that the gastrocnemius muscle presents as feathery fibers distributed at an angle, adjust the direction of the patch ultrasound probe to be consistent with the distribution direction of the gastrocnemius muscle; Step 600: Guide the subject to perform the measurement action under the prompt tone, and set the location of the maximum degree of muscle fiber movement as the sampling frame according to the acquired ultrasound image; Step 700: Adjust the ultrasonic sampling angle of the patch ultrasonic probe to the preset sampling angle, and collect motion waveforms according to the preset motion mode to obtain the visual measurement results of gastrocnemius muscle motion parameters.

[0019] Preferably, the probe position determination method includes: referencing the popliteal artery short-axis ultrasound section, moving horizontally outward by a set distance, and then rotating 90°.

[0020] Optionally, the measurement action includes: ankle plantar flexion.

[0021] Preferably, the prompt tone is an audio signal with a fixed frequency.

[0022] Optionally, the preset sampling angle is less than 60°.

[0023] Preferably, the exercise mode involves 40 ankle plantar flexion movements per cycle, accompanied by a 50Hz beep.

[0024] Furthermore, the visualization measurement results of the gastrocnemius muscle motion parameters include: the concentric contraction waveform of the gastrocnemius muscle and the eccentric contraction waveform of the gastrocnemius muscle.

[0025] Specifically, the placement method of the patch ultrasound probe is as follows. This embodiment uses a patch-type color Doppler ultrasound diagnostic instrument with high resolution and precise signal capture capabilities. The probe is a patch-type linear array probe with a center frequency of 6.3MHz. Taking the detection of the left gastrocnemius muscle as an example, the patch ultrasound probe is placed horizontally in the popliteal fossa of the patient, with the tip facing outward and the tail facing inward. When the shape and position of the short-axis ultrasound section of the popliteal artery are displayed in the ultrasound image, the probe is moved horizontally outward by 1cm to 1.5cm. This distance has been verified through multiple clinical practices to ensure that the probe is located in the ideal detection area of ​​the lateral head of the gastrocnemius muscle belly. Using the probe tip as the center, the probe is rotated 90° clockwise (or 90° counterclockwise for the right gastrocnemius muscle). The ultrasound image displays the long head of the lateral head of the gastrocnemius muscle, exhibiting the typical characteristic of angularly distributed feathery fibers. This ensures that the detection direction of the probe is consistent with the distribution direction of the feathery fibers of the gastrocnemius muscle, maximizing the component of the probe's detection direction during centripetal and eccentric contractions of the muscle fibers, providing a clear image basis for subsequent accurate measurements.

[0026] Further, regarding patient positioning and movement methods: The examinee should sit on an examination stool approximately 60cm high (adjustable according to the patient's height) to maintain a comfortable and stable posture during the examination. The lower limb on the examined side should be straight, ensuring the calf muscles are in a naturally extended state, avoiding tension changes caused by muscle tightness that could affect the measurement results. The Achilles tendon is placed on a footrest approximately 40cm high (adjustable according to the examination stool height) for fixation. The height of the footrest allows the knee joint to be straightened, eliminating the influence of knee joint movement on subsequent results, and positioning the ankle joint in a suitable position to provide stable support for subsequent ankle plantar flexion movements. The other foot rests naturally on the ground. The upper body should be upright to maintain balance and stability, avoiding interference with the accuracy of measurement data due to body swaying. Subsequently, the examinee is guided to perform ankle plantar flexion movements. This movement can actively contract the gastrocnemius muscle, thereby capturing the changes in various parameters during muscle contraction on the ultrasound image, providing dynamic data support for muscle strength assessment. With the assistance of the prompting sounds, the subject performs ankle plantar flexion movements rhythmically. The prompting sounds help the subject maintain a stable movement frequency and avoid fluctuations in measurement data due to unstable movement rhythm.

[0027] Specifically, real-time data acquisition is performed. After completing the above preparations, the sampling frame is placed at the point of maximum muscle fiber movement. This position ensures that the acquired signal best reflects the actual movement state of the gastrocnemius muscle. The ultrasonic sampling angle of the patch is adjusted to <60°. The core reason is to reduce the attenuation of reflected signals, ensure image quality, and allow more reflected waves to return to the probe, thus ensuring the authenticity and reliability of the signal. The motion mode is set to 50Hz and 40 cycles. During this process, the concentric and eccentric contraction waveforms of the gastrocnemius muscle are recorded, providing quantitative data support for clinical diagnosis and exercise training. This motion waveform reflects the speed and acceleration of the concentric and eccentric contractions of the muscle, but the rhythm must remain stable. EF represents the number of waveforms acquired per unit time. The absolute value of the standard deviation of EF ≤ 5 is required to ensure the validity of other parameters.

[0028] Refer to Table 1. Figure 4 , Figure 5 Comparison of EF measurements at different locations: Concentric and eccentric contraction waveforms of the gastrocnemius muscle. These waveforms reflect the velocity and acceleration of concentric and eccentric contractions. One waveform represents one concentric or eccentric contraction. When the waveform exhibits a complete "peak" or "valley" shape, it indicates the most stable data collection, as shown in the waveform collected at location one. Figure 4 The waveform acquired at position two Figure 5 In a waveform, the peak fluctuates repeatedly near the baseline, indicating that the collected data is unstable. Comparing the EF values ​​and standard deviations of EF measured at the two locations (location 1: lateral head of the gastrocnemius muscle; location 2: belly of the gastrocnemius muscle), the standard deviation of the data measured by the method in this embodiment (location 1) is smaller, indicating that the results are more stable (P < 0.05).

[0029] Table 1

[0030] The beneficial effects of this invention are as follows: (1) This invention uses the popliteal artery short-axis ultrasound section reference + 90° rotation for precise probe positioning, avoiding interference factors such as probe position, movement mode, and movement frequency in traditional methods. The stability and repeatability of the measurement results are significantly improved, meeting the core needs of real-time clinical assessment and dynamic monitoring of movement scenarios. The gastrocnemius muscle data measured at different locations as shown in Table 1 confirm that the gastrocnemius muscle movement rhythm measured at the location selected in this invention is more stable.

[0031] (2) Unlike electromyography, which relies on electromyographic signals to indirectly correlate muscle strength and scale scores, this invention uses patch ultrasound to collect dynamic images and blood flow signals of the gastrocnemius muscle in real time and simultaneously record muscle fiber motion parameters.

[0032] The various embodiments in this specification are described in a progressive manner, with each embodiment focusing on the differences from other embodiments. The same or similar parts between the various embodiments can be referred to each other.

[0033] This document uses specific examples to illustrate the principles and implementation methods of the present invention. The descriptions of the above embodiments are only for the purpose of helping to understand the method and core ideas of the present invention. Furthermore, those skilled in the art will recognize that, based on the ideas of the present invention, there will be changes in the specific implementation methods and application scope. Therefore, the content of this specification should not be construed as a limitation of the present invention.

Claims

1. A method for visually measuring gastrocnemius muscle motion parameters based on ultrasound tissue Doppler, characterized in that, include: Guide the examinee to sit on the examination stool, and place the Achilles tendon on the examined side of the examinee on the footrest for fixation; The patch ultrasound probe is placed in the popliteal fossa of the subject with the head facing outward and the tail facing inward to collect data and obtain ultrasound images; When the ultrasound image shows the morphology and position of the popliteal artery short-axis ultrasound section, the patch ultrasound probe is moved horizontally outward by a set distance; the set distance ranges from 1cm to 1.5cm. With the head end as the center, when testing the left leg of the subject, the patch ultrasonic probe is rotated 90° clockwise, and when testing the right leg of the subject, the patch ultrasonic probe is rotated 90° counterclockwise. When the ultrasound image shows that the gastrocnemius muscle presents as feathery fibers distributed at an angle, the direction of the patch ultrasound probe is adjusted to be consistent with the distribution direction of the gastrocnemius muscle. Guide the subject to perform the measurement action under the prompt tone, and set the sampling frame at the point of maximum muscle fiber movement based on the acquired ultrasound image; The ultrasonic sampling angle of the patch ultrasonic probe is adjusted to a preset sampling angle, and motion waveforms are acquired according to a preset motion mode to obtain the visual measurement results of gastrocnemius muscle motion parameters.

2. The method for visually measuring gastrocnemius muscle motion parameters based on ultrasound tissue Doppler as described in claim 1, characterized in that, The measured action includes: ankle plantar flexion.

3. The method for visually measuring gastrocnemius muscle motion parameters based on ultrasound tissue Doppler as described in claim 1, characterized in that, The prompt tone is an audio signal with a fixed frequency.

4. The method for visually measuring gastrocnemius muscle motion parameters based on ultrasound tissue Doppler as described in claim 1, characterized in that, The preset sampling angle is less than 60°.

5. The method for visually measuring gastrocnemius muscle motion parameters based on ultrasound tissue Doppler as described in claim 1, characterized in that, The exercise mode involves performing 40 ankle plantar flexion movements per cycle, accompanied by a 50Hz beep.

6. The method for visually measuring gastrocnemius muscle motion parameters based on ultrasound tissue Doppler as described in claim 1, characterized in that, The visualization measurement results of the gastrocnemius muscle motion parameters include: the concentric contraction waveform of the gastrocnemius muscle and the eccentric contraction waveform of the gastrocnemius muscle.

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