Biomechanics Laboratory
Muscle Mechanics via DT-MRI
- 3D Bone Segmentation on T1 Images
- 3D Hybrid Elastic-Rigid MRI Registration
- DTI Driven Strain Analysis via Estimated Deformation Fields
- DTI based Analysis of Micro-Structural Changes in Muscles
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Due to myofascial loads, strain distribution within muscle cannot be homogeneous. Using MRI based deformation analyses and DTI based tractography combined, we aimed at assessing muscle fascicle direction local tissue deformations within the human medial gastrocnemius muscle as caused by knee angle changes. Tractography and Demons nonrigid registration algorithm were utilized to calculate local deformations along muscle fascicles. Despite global lengthening conditions, fascicle tracts with negative and positive mean strains exist. Much shearing across fascicle tracts have been observed. Non-uniformity of fascicle strain indicates epimuscular myofascial force transmission. MRI and DTI analyses combined provide a powerful tool for quantifying deformation along human muscle fibers in vivo.