Muscle Thickness of Anterior Mid-Thigh in Hospitalized Patients: Comparison of Supine and Standing Postures.
Tomohiro Yasuda, Shigeru Toyoda, Teruo Inoue and 1 others
PMID 33543089WHAT IT FOUND
Ultrasound measurements of thigh muscle thickness were significantly lower when patients lay down compared to when they stood.
For hospitalized patients, supine readings averaged 2.5 cm for men and 2.1 cm for women, versus 3.7 cm and 3.1 cm respectively when standing. Clinicians must account for posture to avoid underestimating muscle mass.
Key findings
01Anterior mid-thigh muscle thickness measured by ultrasound was significantly greater in the standing posture than in the supine position for both men and women.
02The ratio of muscle thickness in the supine position to that in the standing posture was similar for men and women, indicating a consistent reduction when lying down.
03Standing measurements were approximately 32% higher than supine measurements regardless of sex, while men's muscle thickness was approximately 16% higher than women's regardless of posture.
STILL TO COME
How it was doneWhat they foundWhat it means for PTsWhat it means for OTs
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What it does not show
The study population was limited to inpatients with cardiovascular disease, so findings may not generalize to healthy adults, outpatients, or those with other conditions. Participants were instructed to relax, but some muscle contraction may have occurred to maintain balance while standing, potentially influencing the measurements. The study did not include healthy adults or outpatients, so target values for these groups are unknown. The cause of the difference between postures is not fully explained, though fluid shift and gravity pressure are suggested.
Declared interests
No specific conflicts of interest or funding sources were declared in the provided text.
The easy way to misread this
Do not interpret a higher muscle thickness reading in a standing patient compared to their supine baseline as evidence of muscle growth or recovery. The study shows that standing measurements are consistently higher than supine measurements due to posture, not necessarily because the muscle has changed size. Always compare like with like.