Characterisation of functional status of muscles using ultrasound imaging

In neuromuscular disease associated with muscle paralysis, such as stroke or spinal cord injury, accurate diagnosis of muscle function is important to inform the most effective rehabilitation interventions and to improve outcome for the patient. Existing techniques are often limited in their accuracy, for example by relying on individual clinical judgment, or are difficult to apply in a clinical setting. Ultrasound imaging has recently been used to describe muscle movements, allowing the precise and sensitive characterisation of muscle function. Advances in image analysis now enable automatic analysis of ultrasound videos. In this project, this technique will be used to describe muscle in able bodied participant to provide a baseline for comparison with muscle characteristics in patients with spinal cord injury.