Ultrasound imaging of muscle contraction of the tibialis anterior in patients with facioscapulohumeral dystrophy

In fascioscapulohumeral muscular dystrophy (FSHD) and many other neuromuscular disorders there is a need for biomarkers to diagnose, quantify and longitudinally follow muscle disease. Furthermore, the pathophysiological mechanisms leading to muscle weakness in most neuromuscular disorders are not completely understood. Speckle tracking allows to quantify muscle deformation. This dynamic information provides insight in the pathophysiological mechanisms and may help to distinguish the different stages of diseased muscle in FSHD.