Understanding Muscle Structure and Movement
Noninvasive tools for assessing muscle structure and function
This project aims to develop a new way to measure muscle strength and stiffness without surgery, which could help people with movement difficulties like those from stroke or cerebral palsy.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Northwestern University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Chicago, UNITED STATES) |
| Project ID | NIH-11135329 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
Many conditions, such as stroke or cerebral palsy, can make it hard to move because of changes in muscle strength and stiffness. Currently, it's difficult to accurately measure these muscle properties without invasive procedures. This project is working on a new approach using a special type of ultrasound, called shear wave elastography, to measure both muscle stiffness and force. By improving how we measure these factors, doctors could better understand how muscles work and create more effective rehabilitation plans.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Patients experiencing movement difficulties due to conditions like stroke, cerebral palsy, or musculoskeletal injuries could potentially benefit from the future application of this research.
Not a fit: Individuals without movement disorders or muscle function changes would not directly benefit from this specific research.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this new measurement technique could lead to more personalized and effective rehabilitation treatments for various movement disorders.
How similar studies have performed: While ultrasound shear wave elastography has been explored before, this project proposes a novel interpretation to simultaneously measure both muscle stiffness and force, building on previous findings.
Where this research is happening
Chicago, UNITED STATES
- Northwestern University — Chicago, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Perreault, Eric Jon — Northwestern University
- Study coordinator: Perreault, Eric Jon
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.