Evidence map›Paper›PMID 33221942›Full record

ReviewEuropean journal of applied physiology2021

Echo intensity as an indicator of skeletal muscle quality: applications, methodology, and future directions.

Matt S Stock, Brennan J Thompson

2 registry-linked trialsAbstract readReview
PubMed Publisher
In one paragraph

Review in European journal of applied physiology, 2021. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. It is linked to 2 registered trials, which are not on this map. Cited by 98 papers, 3 of them syntheses that pooled it.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
98citing papers in PubMed, 3 pooled it
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

NCT06345547 recruitingnot on this mapstarted 2024, after this paper: background citation

Prospective Observational Cohort Survey to Assess the Prevalence and Development of Sarcopenia and the Correlation of Muscle Mass and Outcome in Patients With Cirrhosis by Skeletal Muscle Ultrasound.

Typeobservational_patient_registrySponsorUniversity Hospital, AntwerpRan2024 to 2028Enrolled60ConditionsSarcopenia, Cirrhosis, MalnutritionArmsultrasound
NCT06514638 completednot on this mapstarted 2023, after this paper: background citation

Computational Mathematical Analysis of the Texture of Muscle Tissue in Vastus Medialis Between a MTrP and a Non-painful Point

TypeobservationalSponsorSamuel Fernández CarneroRan2023 to 2024Enrolled66ConditionsTrigger Point Pain, MyofascialArmsUltrasound imaging
3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

98 citing papers in PubMed, 3 syntheses or guidelines pooled it.

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  15. Muscle Ultrasound Echo Intensity Detects Insulin Resistance Before Changes in HbAJournal of ultrasound in medicine : official journal of the American Institute of Ultrasound in Medicine · 2026
    Article
  16. Article
  17. Article
  18. Article
  19. Article
  20. Observational

38 more citing papers are in PubMed but not listed here.

4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

2 authors.

Matt S StockSchool of Kinesiology and Physical Therapy, University of Central Florida, 12805 Pegasus Drive, HPA 1, Room 258, Orlando, FL, 32816-2205, USA. matt.stock@ucf.edu.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0003-1156-1084
Brennan J ThompsonDepartment of Kinesiology and Health Science, Utah State University, Logan, UT, USA.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

purposeThis narrative review provides an overview of the current knowledge of B-mode ultrasound-derived echo intensity (EI) as an indicator of skeletal muscle quality.

methodPubMed and Google Scholar were used to search the literature. Advanced search functions were used to find original studies with the terms 'echo intensity' and/or 'muscle quality' in the title and/or abstract. Publications that conceptually described muscle quality but did not include measurement of EI were not a focus of the review.

resultImportantly, the foundational premise of EI remains unclear. While it is likely that EI reflects intramuscular adiposity, data suggesting that these measurements are influenced by fibrous tissue is limited to diseased muscle and animal models. EI appears to show particular promise in studying muscular aging. Studies have consistently reported an association between EI and muscle function, though not all chronic interventions have demonstrated improvements. Based on the existing literature, it is unclear if EI can be used as a marker of muscle glycogen following exercise and nutritional interventions, or if EI is influenced by hydration status. Inconsistent methodological approaches used across laboratories have made comparing EI studies challenging. Image depth, rest duration, participant positioning, probe tilt, and the decision to correct for subcutaneous adipose tissue thickness are all critical considerations when interpreting the literature and planning studies.

conclusionWhile some areas show conflicting evidence, EI shows promise as a novel tool for studying muscle quality. Collaborative efforts focused on methodology are necessary to enhance the consistency and quality of the EI literature.

Indexed as

AdiposityAgingAnimalsExerciseHumansMuscle, SkeletalMuscle StrengthSubcutaneous FatUltrasonographyAgingBody compositionCTExerciseMRIMuscle qualityObesityResistance trainingUltrasound

Identifiers

PMID33221942

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.