Shear wave elastography is capable of detecting regional changes in biceps brachii muscle stiffness before and after resistance exercise, which supports its utility as a non-invasive method for monitoring mechanical adaptations in training and rehabilitation among resistance-trained males.

When someone lifts weights with their arm fully stretched, the biceps muscle gets pulled tight and then forced to lengthen while under heavy load. This pulls too hard on the tiny contractile units inside the muscle fibers, causing small tears in their structure. These tiny damages make the muscle feel looser and less stiff, which a special ultrasound scan can detect without needles.