Table 1 QUS parameters measured among different subject groups

With loading

SOS

(m·s^-1)

1596.84 ± 33.16

1570.24 ± 36.98^a

1566.80 ± 32.60^a

1553.51 ± 18.83^a

nBUA

(dB·MHz^-1·cm^-1)

19.66 ± 4.90

15.22 ± 3.18^b

13.95 ± 5.87^b

11.72 ± 3.19^b,c

STI

86.08 ± 19.44

70.12 ± 16.69^a

65.32 ± 22.19^a

55.65 ± 14.24^a

Without loading

SOS

(m·s^-1)

1596.67 ± 30.18

1574.07 ± 35.83^a

1568.63 ± 31.77^a

1558.36 ± 15.60^a

nBUA

(dB·MHz^-1·cm^-1)

18.65 ± 4.18

14.57 ± 2.92^b

12.97 ± 5.45^b

11.25 ± 3.07^b,c

STI

83.21 ± 16.66

69.14 ± 15.96^b

68.94 ± 14.76^b

52.75 ± 9.66^b,c