Abstract
This project investigated the effect of soft tissue layers on quantitative ultrasound, and its ability to accurately predict bone health parameters. To utilise this tool and its ability to measure bone health in children and sub-adults this research also identified suitable regions of interest for ultrasound transducer placement on the heel using anatomical landmarks. Finally, this research investigated the development and fusion of the calcaneal apophysis in which age-dependent and sex-specific clinical reference standards were created to identify children at risk of heel conditions such as apophysitis.