Alyaa H. Elzibak1, 2, Alireza Akbari, 23, Michael D. Noseworthy, 24
1Medical Physics and Applied Radiation Sciences, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada; 2Imaging Research Centre, St. Joseph's Healthcare, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada; 3School of Biomedical Engineering, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada; 4School of Biomedical Engineering, Electrical and Computer Engineering, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada
Blood oxygen level dependent (BOLD) contrast has been used to investigate the response of calf muscles to exercise. Since muscle biopsies are performed on the quadriceps, this work aimed at evaluating the recruitment of the four heads of the quadriceps femoris in exercise. Using an MRI compatible ergometer, BOLD images were acquired of the midthigh of healthy subjects. The protocol consisted of 1-minute of rest, followed by 2-minutes of intense supine thigh extension and ended with 3-minutes of recovery. Analysis revealed non-uniform activation of the muscles, with the rectus femoris and vastus intermedius playing the greatest role in the exercise.