Measurement of muscle thickness
Muscle thickness was assessed using a B-mode ultrasound device (SONIMAGEHS1 musculoskeletal ultrasonic diagnostic system, Tokyo, Japan) at three anatomical sites: (a) gluteus maximus (the first third between the posterior superior iliac spine and the greater trochanter of the femur); (b) rectus femoris (a point two-thirds of the distance between the anterior–superior iliac spine and the superior tip of the patella on the anterior aspect of the thigh); and (c) gastrocnemius muscles (30% proximal between the lateral malleolus of the fibula and the lateral condyle of the tibia), as previously describedMuscle thickness images.