Relative Strengths of the Calf Muscles Based on MRI Volume Measurements

• DOI: 10.3113/fai.2012.0394
• Publication Date: 2012-07-26T16:58:33Z
• Authors: Clifford L. Jeng; Gaurav K. Thawait; John Y. Kwon; Antonio Machado; James W. Boyle; John Campbell; John A. Carrino
• Keywords: Peroneus longus; Calf muscle; Leg muscle

In 1985, Silver et al. published a cadaver study which determined the relative order of strength muscles in calf. Muscle strength, is proportional to volume, was obtained by dissecting out individual muscles, weighing them, and then multiplying specific gravity. No similar studies have been performed using {\it vivo} measurements muscle volume.Ten normal subjects underwent 3-Tesla MRI's both lower extremities non-fat-saturated T2 SPACE sequences. The volume for each tracing contour on sequential axial images interpolating imaging software.The results from this differ Silver's original article. lateral head gastrocnemius found be stronger than tibialis anterior muscle. FHL EDL were peroneus longus. There no significant difference between longus brevis muscles.This revised strengths calf based vivo MRI findings may assist surgeons determining optimal tendons transfer address weakness deformity.