Utilization of Mid-Thigh Magnetic Resonance Imaging to Predict Lean Body Mass and Knee Extensor Strength in Obese Adults.
Stephan G Bodkin, Andrew C Smith, Bryan C Bergman and 7 others
PMID 35419566WHAT IT FOUND
A machine learning tool accurately measured thigh muscle size from existing MRI scans in 47 obese adults.
These measurements strongly predicted lean body mass and knee strength, offering a way to assess physical function without new radiation exposure.
Key findings
01The automated measurement of thigh muscle cross-sectional area from MRI closely matched manual measurements by human raters.
02Automated MRI measurements predicted 73% of the variance in appendicular lean mass (lean mass in arms and legs) when controlling for age.
03Automated MRI measurements predicted 76% of the variance in knee extensor torque when controlling for age.
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 only included 47 adults with obesity. Results may not apply to people without obesity or to other age groups. All MRI scans were taken using the same scanner and settings. The tool may not work accurately with scans from different machines or with different imaging parameters. The study only measured knee extension and flexion strength. It did not assess broader physical functions like walking speed or balance. The tool has not been tested in a real clinical setting. It is currently a research method, not a ready-to-use clinical tool. The study used a single mid-thigh slice to estimate muscle size. This may be less accurate than measuring the entire muscle volume.
Declared interests
The authors declared no commercial or financial conflicts of interest. The study was funded by NIH grants (R01DK111559, T32AG000279, K12 HD055931) and a pilot grant from the University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus.
The easy way to misread this
Do not assume this tool is ready for clinical use. It was tested only on a small group of obese adults using specific MRI equipment. It may not work for other patients or with different scanners.