Introducing Dynamic Multi-Exponential T2-Relaxation for Studying Muscle Pattern & Activation in the Human

Burkhard Mdler¹, Jrgen Gieseke², ³, Volker A. Coenen¹

We successfully demonstrate the ability of acquiring high resolution in-vivo T2-relaxation data for quantitative multi-component analysis in human muscle with adequate B1-correction techniques. The T2-components identified are in agreement with recent non-spatially resolved studies from high SNR single voxel T2-experiment. The ability to monitor dynamic changes in muscle-compartmentalization might provide a powerful technique to assess the effectiveness of specific exercise and rehabilitation protocols and monitor treatment efficacy of interventions. This information may proof very valuable to understand compensatory muscle activation in the healthy human subjects as well as patterns associated with injury and/or pathophysiology.