Usefulness of muscle echo intensity for evaluating functional performance in the older population: A scoping review
Open accessAbstract
Muscle echo intensity, as measured by ultrasonography, could be used as a new marker of functional performance in older populations. This scoping review aimed to present evidence on the utility of muscle echo intensity as determined by ultrasonography for assessing functional performance in older adults. The eligibility criterion included observational studies that investigated the associations between muscle echo intensity and functional performance in older adults. Terms, such as "echo intensity" and "older adults", were searched for in databases, such as PubMed, Web of Science, the Cochrane database of systematic reviews, and the Cumulative Index of Nursing and Allied Health Literature, in April 2021. Two independent reviewers screened and extracted the data; 46 papers, of which almost one-third were Japanese, were subsequently identified for inclusion. The representative functional performances included in this review were muscle strength, gait speed, sit-to-stand test results, and timed up-and-go test results. Poor to moderate associations were found between muscle echo intensity and functional performance; however, heterogeneities were observed in the characteristics of study participants. Moreover, the accurate effect size and causal inferences between muscle echo intensity and functional performance remained unclear. Further longitudinal studies are needed to determine these causal inferences.
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Some recent reviews focused exclusively on echo intensity.
“Some focused exclusively on EI (Kitagawa et al., 2023; Yuan and Kim, 2023)”
From Ultrasound-derived muscle variables and physical function in older adults: A scoping review. (2026) · cites this paper as Kitagawa et al., 2023
Our findings are broadly consistent with previous reviews.
“Our findings are broadly consistent with previous reviews.”
From Ultrasound-derived muscle variables and physical function in older adults: A scoping review. (2026) · cites this paper as Kitagawa et al., 2023
Kitagawa et al. reported weak to moderate correlations between EI and measures of functional performance, emphasizing heterogeneity across populations and protocols.
“Kitagawa et al. reported weak to moderate correlations be tween EI and measures of functional performance, emphasizing het erogeneity across populations and protocols (Kitagawa et al., 2023).”
From Ultrasound-derived muscle variables and physical function in older adults: A scoping review. (2026) · cites this paper as Kitagawa et al., 2023
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The reliability and validity of ultrasound to quantify muscles in older adults: A systematic review
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“…USA used panoramic images of the muscle for the EI calculation (Palmer and Thompson, 2017; Gerstner et al., 2017; Magrini et al., 2018; Mota et al., 2018; Stock et al., 2018; Olmos et al., 2019; Palmer et al., 2020; Olmos et al., 2020; Farrow et al., 2020; Bali et al., 2020; Komforti et al., 2021).”
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Asano, Y., Yoshida, T., Tsunoda, K., Yokoyama, K., Watanabe, Y., Yoshinaka, Y., Okura, T., Kimura, M., & Yamada, Y. (2025) · Experimental Gerontology · doi:10.1016/j.exger.2025.112862 · Cited by 19 · see citing works
Ultrasound-derived muscle variables and physical function in older adults: A scoping review.
Phillip, J. G., Brockhattingen, K. K., Kaarsbo, T., Kristensen, M. T., Ryg, J., Suetta, C., Masud, T., & Minet, L. R. (2026) · Archives of Gerontology and Geriatrics · doi:10.1016/j.archger.2026.106151 · Cited by 2 · see citing works
- Authors
- Kitagawa, T., Nakamura, M., & Fukumoto, Y.
- Affiliations
- Shinshu University (JP)
- Nishikyushu University (JP)
- Kansai Medical University (JP)
- Corresponding author
- Kitagawa, Takashi
- Venue
- Experimental Gerontology
- Publisher
- Elsevier BV
- Published
- 2023-10
- Volume
- 182
- Pages
- 112301
- ISSN
- 0531-5565 (ISSN-L)
- OpenAlex
- W4387207720
- Cited by
- 12
- References
- 8
- Citations by year
- 2026: 4 · 2025: 6 · 2024: 2
- FWCI
- 0.43
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- gold
- doi.org
- Licence
- Locations
- Experimental Gerontology (publishedVersion, cc-by)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- DOAJ (DOAJ: Directory of Open Access Journals) (submittedVersion, cc-by-sa)
- Funders
- Japan Society for the Promotion of Science (JP 21K17470)
- Topics
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Physiology › Nutrition and Health in Aging
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Geriatrics and Gerontology › Frailty in Older Adults
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Radiology, Nuclear Medicine and Imaging › Ultrasound Imaging and Elastography
- Keywords
- muscle echo intensity, muscle ultrasound, functional performance, older adults, muscle strength, walking speed, sit-to-stand test, Timed Up and Go test, sarcopenia
- MeSH terms
- Walking Speed, Physical Functional Performance, Aged, Aging, Humans, Ultrasonography, Geriatric Assessment, Muscle, Skeletal, Muscle Strength
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