Relationship between shear elastic modulus and passive force of the human rectus femoris at multiple sites: a Thiel soft-embalmed cadaver study

Purpose Estimation of muscle passive force from elasticity using shear wave elastography (SWE) has been reported. However, the relationship between the elasticity and passive force of human muscles has not been elucidated. This study investigated the elastic modulus–passive force relationship in human skeletal muscles at multiple sites. Methods Four rectus femoris (RF) muscles were dissected from a human Thiel-embalmed cadaver. Calibration weights (0–600 g in 60-g increments) were applied to the distal tendon via a pulley system, and the shear elastic modulus as an index of elasticity was measured using SWE. The shear elastic modulus of the RF was measured at the proximal, central, and distal portions. Results The results demonstrated that the relationships between the elasticity in the longitudinal direction of the muscle and the passive force were nearly linear for all tested sites, with coefficients of determination ranging from 0.813 to 0.993. Conclusion Shear wave elastography may be used as an indirect method to measure the changing passive force at any site within human muscles.