Measuring Muscle Burn

The University of Colorado at Boulder has developed a noninvasive way for athletes to measure their muscle energy content. The item is a device that measures muscle glycogen to reveal muscle depletion.

Glycogen is a form of energy stored in muscles that is required for optimal athletic performance, according to Denverite writer Chloe Aiello. The device, which consists of an ultrasound wand, bounces sound waves off muscles to measure their water content. The more water, the more glycogen there is in the muscle. The device is now licensed to MuscleSound, a Denver, Colorado company. Until recently and until this development, the only way to determine glycogen levels was though a surgical biopsy.

“Whether you are running a marathon or recovering from an accident, when the body runs out of glycogen the same thing happens: the muscle eats itself to feed itself, ” said Inigo San Millan, Ph.D., in a statement. Millan developed the technology for the wand, in conjunction with the CU Sports Medicine and Performance Center.

The measurement process takes about 15 seconds. Information from the ultra sound produces a Muscle Energy Status Score. If the score is low it means the athlete should ease up on training or add to the carbo-load. A score that is too high means the athlete needs to decrease he intensity of his training or else eat less.

The new technology is easy to operate and a quick consultation with a coach will give an athlete his glycogen scores.