Ultrasound measures of muscle thickness and subcutaneous tissue from the hip abductors: Inter- and intra-rater reliability. (December 2022)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Lanza, Marcel Bahia; Rock, Kelly; Marchese, Victoria; Gray, Vicki L.; Addison, Odessa
• Is Part Of: Musculoskeletal science and practice. Volume 62(2022)
• Publication Date: 2022-12
• Subjects: Ultrasound imaging -- Hip abductor muscles -- Gluteus medius -- Tensor fascia latae -- Muscle structure; Manipulation (Therapeutics) -- Periodicals; Physical therapy -- Periodicals; Neuromuscular diseases -- Treatment -- Periodicals; Musculoskeletal system -- Diseases -- Periodicals; Manipulation (Therapeutics); Neuromuscular diseases -- Treatment; Physical therapy; Manipulation, Orthopedic; Musculoskeletal Diseases -- therapy; Neuromuscular Diseases -- therapy; Physical Therapy Modalities; Electronic journals; Periodicals; 615.82
• DOI: 10.1016/j.msksp.2022.102612
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 2468-8630

Abstract

Abstract: Background: Ultrasound imaging is important in many fields such as medicine, sports, and health sciences to assess parts of muscle structure (e.g., muscle thickness [MT]) or composition (subcutaneous tissue [SubT ]). Objective: The aim of the present study was to investigate the intra- and inter-rater reliability of MT and SubT measurements of the hip abductor muscles gluteus medius (GM) and tensor fascia latae (TFL). Design: Cross-sectional study. Method: Twenty young adults participated in the study. Intra-rater reliability was established by measuring the same two images twice by the same rater, while inter-rater reliability was assessed between two raters by measuring the same two images for each muscle. For both intra- and inter-rater reliability, the reliability of the TFL and GM outcomes (MT- SubT ) were determined by the intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC), coefficient of variation (CV), standard error of the measurement (SEM), and Bland-Altman plots. Results: For intra-rater reliability, variables of both muscles showed an excellent ICC (≥0.90), lower CV and SEM, and bias near zero. Inter-rater reliability also showed an excellent ICC for both variables and muscles (≥0.81) with lower CV, SEM, and bias. Conclusion: Therefore, these results provide strong evidence of a reliable measure of MT and SubT from GM and TFL. The present study provides health care professionals and researchers increased confidence in using 2D ultrasound to assess the hip abductors muscles reliably. Highlights: To measure hip abductors muscle structure ultrasound images are often used . Hip abductor's intra-rater reliability of muscle structure was excellent . Similarly, hip abductor's inter-rater reliability of muscle structure was excellent .