Noriyuki Tawara1, Osamu Nitta2, Hironobu Kuruma2, Mamoru Niitsu3, Naoyuki Tamura4, Hideyuki Takahashi4, Atsuto Hoshikawa1, Kohei Nakajima1, Toru Okuwaki1, T
1Department of Sports Medicine, Japan Institute of Sports Scinences, Tokyo, Japan; 2Department of Physical Therapy, Faculty of Health Sciences, Tokyo Metropolitan University, Tokyo, Japan; 3Department of Radiology, Saitama Medcical University, Saitama, Japan; 4Department of Sports Science, Japan Institute of Sports Sciences, Tokyo, Japan
Exercise-induced muscle activity is essential in sports medicine and rehabilitation medicine. MRI can evaluate muscle activity; T2 of the exercised muscle is increased compared to that of rested muscle. Additionally, strengthening of the rotator cuff muscles is one of the most integral parts of a rehabilitation program for athletes with shoulder injuries who must perform throwing motions during sports. Therefore, evaluation of muscle activity using T2weighted MRI will facilitate identification the most effective exercises for strengthening the rotator cuff. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the visualization of rotator cuffs activity induced by acute exercise.