Validation of bioimpedance phase angle in lower extremity of male patients with chronic spinal cord injury.
Takeyoshi Shimoda, Yoshio Takano
PMID 38304153WHAT IT FOUND
In men with chronic spinal cord injury, lower-limb phase angle from bioimpedance was lower than in healthy men and was related to ultrasound thigh muscle size and fat and fibrous tissue.
No function or treatment effect was tested.
Key findings
01In men with chronic SCI, whole-body phase angle was strongly correlated with rectus femoris muscle thickness (r=0.66) and echo intensity (r=-0.80).
02In men with chronic SCI, lower-limb phase angle was strongly correlated with rectus femoris muscle thickness (r=0.72) and echo intensity (r=-0.72).
03Men with chronic SCI had lower whole-body phase angle (3.86 ± 0.91°) and lower-limb phase angle (2.58 ± 1.22°) than healthy controls, with significant differences in measured parameters.
STILL TO COME
How it was doneWhat they foundWhat it means for PTs
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What it does not show
Only 12 men with SCI and 14 healthy controls were studied. All participants were men, so the findings may not apply to women. The study was cross-sectional, so it cannot show how phase angle changes over time or how muscle degeneration develops. Muscle was assessed only in the rectus femoris by ultrasound, not the whole lower limb by MRI or DXA. Phase angle can be affected by race, gender, and age, and the sample had a wide age range. Participants were recruited from specialized gyms or wheelchair sports organizations, so they may not represent all men with chronic SCI.
Declared interests
The authors declared no conflict of interest.
The easy way to misread this
Do not conclude that phase angle improves rehabilitation outcomes or predicts function. The study was a small cross-sectional comparison in men with chronic SCI. It showed relationships with ultrasound measures, but it did not test clinical benefit.