Variation in Ultrasound Attenuation in Relaxed and Contracted Muscle Tissue

The purpose of this study is to measure the attenuation of ultrasound in contracted and relaxed states in rat skeletal muscle. Ultrasonic waves are sound waves that have a frequency above twenty thousand Hertz (higher than the audible range). Attenuation, the loss of energy in a sound wave as it travels through a material, is an intrinsic property of that material. Therefore, it can be used to characterize tissues and has the potential to help physicians diagnose muscle abnormalities. Results indicate that ultrasonic waves attenuate at a higher rate in relaxed tissue versus contracted tissue. These results could have implications for ultrasound imaging of patients in the clinic.