Valera-Calero JA, Fernández-de-Las-Peñas C, Cleland JA, Varol U, Ortega-Santiago R, Arias-Buría JL. Ultrasound assessment of deep cervical extensors morphology and quality in populations with whiplash associated disorders: An intra- and inter-examiner reliability study.
Musculoskelet Sci Pract 2022;
59:102538. [PMID:
35272960 DOI:
10.1016/j.msksp.2022.102538]
[Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/17/2021] [Revised: 02/12/2022] [Accepted: 02/21/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND
Ultrasound imaging (US) has shown to be a reliable and valid tool for assessing muscle morphology and quality. However, most studies have focused on asymptomatic populations.
OBJECTIVE
To investigate intra- and inter-rater reliability estimates of muscle morphology and quality of cervical multifidus (CM) and short rotators (SR) in patients with whiplash associated disorders (WAD).
DESIGN
An intra- and inter-examiner reliability study.
METHODS
US images were acquired in a blinded fashion in 34 patients (35% males) by two experienced and two novice examiners. Cross-sectional area (CSA), perimeter, mean echo-intensity (EI) and the percentage of fatty infiltration were assessed twice, one-week apart, in a randomized order. Reliability estimates (i.e., intra-class correlation coefficients -ICC-, standard error of measurement -SEM-, minimal detectable change, mean of measurements, absolute and percent errors) were calculated.
RESULTS
Intra-examiner reliability for experienced assessors ranged from good to excellent for CM and SR (ICC3,1 = 0.888-0.975 and 0.810-0.964 respectively) and from moderate-to-good for novices (ICC3,1 = 0.708-0.790 and 0.655-0.796 respectively). The agreement between the experienced examiners was moderate to good (ICC3,2 = 0.737-0.899 and 0.728-0.899 CM and SR respectively); between novice and experienced examiners was moderate to good (ICC3,2 = 0.617-0.873 and 0.657-0.766 CM and SR respectively); and between novice examiners was moderate-to-good for CM (ICC3,2 = 0.610-0.777) and moderate for SR (ICC3,2 = 0.600-0.730).
CONCLUSION
CM and SR intra-examiner reliability was good-to-excellent for novice and experienced examiners. However, inter-examiner reliability was clinically acceptable just for experienced examiners at the C4/C5 level in WAD populations.
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