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Aim: The study aimed to quantitatively clarify the effects of several weeks of static stretching on the flexibility of the rectus femoris muscle using shear wave elastography. Material and methods: Fifteen healthy men (age: 26.4 ± 2.2 years) were instructed to perform 5 min of voluntary static stretching of their right rectus femoris muscles five times a week for four weeks. The participants adjusted their stretching intensity to a point immediately before experiencing discomfort or pain. The Young's modulus of the rectus femoris muscle and the knee-flexion range of motion were measured as indicators of flexibility. The Young's modulus was measured using shear wave elastography. Measurements were performed at baseline, as well as at two and four weeks after the stretching program started. A generalized linear mixed model was used to assess the change in the Young's modulus after the stretching program and the effects of the Young's modulus on the knee-flexion range of motion. Results: The Young's modulus of the rectus femoris muscle decreased after two and four weeks of stretching compared with the baseline (p = 0.0004 and p <0.0001, respectively). The Young's modulus of the rectus femoris muscle and the four-week duration of stretching affected the knee-flexion range of motion (p = 0.0242 and 0.0016, respectively). Conclusions: Shear wave elastography quantitatively revealed that several weeks of static stretching increased the flexibility of the rectus femoris muscle in healthy men. A four-week static stretching regimen reduced the Young's modulus of the rectus femoris muscle and increased the knee-flexion range of motion. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We sought to evaluate the association of low rectus femoris cross-sectional area (RFCSA) with hospital length of stay and poorer outcomes in patients undergoing cardiac surgery. A single right-leg RFCSA was measured with ultrasound preoperatively and baseline characteristics, clinical data, and outcomes recorded. Patients were categorized as low rectus femoris muscle size (lowRF) or normal rectus femoris muscle size (normalRF), if they were in the lowest quartile or not, respectively. All analyses were performed on both body surface area (BSA)- and sex-adjusted RFCSA. One hundred eight-four patients had a RFCSA measured with a mean of 5.01 cm2 (1.41 cm2), and range of 0.71 to 8.77 cm2. When analyzing the BSA-adjusted RFCSA, we found the lowRF group had a longer hospital stay, 11.0 days [7.0-16.3] versus 8.0 days [6.0-10.0] for the normalRF group (P <.001), and a greater proportion of extended hospital stay (≥18.5 days) of 19.6% compared with 6.2% (P =.010). When the RFCSA was adjusted for sex, the lowRF group had a greater length of hospital stay, 9.0 days [7.0-14.5] versus 8.0 days [6.0-11.0] (P =.049). In both the BSA- and sex-adjusted RFCSA, the lowRF group suffered greater morbidity and were more likely discharged to a destination other than home. In multivariate analyses adjusting for European System for Cardiac Operative Risk Evaluation II, BSA-adjusted lowRF but not sex-adjusted lowRF was independently associated with log-transformed hospital length of stay. LowRF was not independently associated with increased major morbidity and death for both BSA and sex-adjusted RFCSA. Low RFCSA has a significant association with increased hospital length of stay, morbidity, and nonhome discharge in patients undergoing cardiac procedures. ACTRN12620000678998. [Display omitted] A single right leg rectus femoris cross-sectional area (RFCSA) was measured by ultrasound. Patients were divided into low (lowRF—lowest quartile) or normal (normalRF—upper three quartiles) rectus femoris muscle size based on body surface area and sex-adjusted RFCSA. [Display omitted] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]