1
|
Varol U, Valera-Calero JA, Ortega-Santiago R, López-Redondo M, Navarro-Santana MJ, Plaza-Manzano G, Belón-Pérez P. Cervical Multifidus Stiffness Assessment in Individuals with and without Unilateral Chronic Neck Pain: An Inter-Examiner Reliability Study. Bioengineering (Basel) 2024; 11:500. [PMID: 38790366 PMCID: PMC11118170 DOI: 10.3390/bioengineering11050500] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/18/2024] [Revised: 05/08/2024] [Accepted: 05/15/2024] [Indexed: 05/26/2024] Open
Abstract
This study aimed to evaluate the inter-examiner reliability of shear wave elastography (SWE) for measuring cervical multifidus (CM) muscle stiffness in asymptomatic controls and patients with chronic neck pain. A longitudinal observational study was conducted to assess the diagnostic accuracy of a procedure. SWE images, following a detailed procedure previously tested, were acquired by two examiners (one novice and one experienced) to calculate the shear wave speed (SWS) and Young's modulus. The painful side was examined for the experimental cases while the side examined in the control group was selected randomly. Data analyses calculated the intra-class correlation coefficients (ICCs), absolute errors between examiners, standard errors of measurement, and minimal detectable changes. A total of 125 participants were analyzed (n = 54 controls and n = 71 cases). The Young's modulus and SWS measurements obtained by both examiners were comparable within the asymptomatic group (both, p > 0.05) and the chronic neck pain group (both, p > 0.05). Nonetheless, a notable distinction was observed in the absolute error between examiners for shear wave speed measurements among patients with neck pain, where a significant difference was registered (p = 0.045), pointing to a sensitivity in measurement consistency affected by the presence of chronic neck pain. ICCs demonstrated moderate-to-good reliability across both groups, with ICC values for asymptomatic individuals reported as >0.8. Among the chronic neck pain patients, ICC values were slightly lower (>0.780). The study revealed moderate-to-good consistency, highlighting the practicality and generalizability of SWE.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Umut Varol
- Escuela Internacional de Doctorado, Universidad Rey Juan Carlos, 28922 Alcorcón, Spain;
| | - Juan Antonio Valera-Calero
- Department of Radiology, Rehabilitation and Physiotherapy, Complutense University of Madrid, 28040 Madrid, Spain; (J.A.V.-C.); (M.J.N.-S.); (G.P.-M.)
- Grupo InPhysio, Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria del Hospital Clínico San Carlos (IdISSC), 28040 Madrid, Spain
| | - Ricardo Ortega-Santiago
- Department of Physical Therapy, Occupational Therapy, Rehabilitation and Physical Medicine, Universidad Rey Juan Carlos, 28922 Alcorcón, Spain;
| | - Mónica López-Redondo
- Faculty of Health Sciences, Universidad Francisco de Vitoria, 28223 Madrid, Spain
| | - Marcos José Navarro-Santana
- Department of Radiology, Rehabilitation and Physiotherapy, Complutense University of Madrid, 28040 Madrid, Spain; (J.A.V.-C.); (M.J.N.-S.); (G.P.-M.)
- Grupo InPhysio, Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria del Hospital Clínico San Carlos (IdISSC), 28040 Madrid, Spain
| | - Gustavo Plaza-Manzano
- Department of Radiology, Rehabilitation and Physiotherapy, Complutense University of Madrid, 28040 Madrid, Spain; (J.A.V.-C.); (M.J.N.-S.); (G.P.-M.)
- Grupo InPhysio, Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria del Hospital Clínico San Carlos (IdISSC), 28040 Madrid, Spain
| | - Pedro Belón-Pérez
- Department of Physical Therapy, Real Madrid C.F., 28055 Madrid, Spain;
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Varol U, Valera-Calero JA, Sánchez-Jiménez E, Fernández-de-las-Peñas C, Ortega-Santiago R, Kobylarz MD, Navarro-Santana MJ. Levator Scapulae Stiffness Measurement Reliability in Individuals with and without Chronic Neck Pain by Experienced and Novel Examiners. SENSORS (BASEL, SWITZERLAND) 2024; 24:277. [PMID: 38203140 PMCID: PMC10781297 DOI: 10.3390/s24010277] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/07/2023] [Revised: 12/19/2023] [Accepted: 12/29/2023] [Indexed: 01/12/2024]
Abstract
The levator scapulae muscle is a key structure in the etiopathology of neck and shoulder musculoskeletal pain. Although previous studies used shear-wave elastography (SWE) for characterizing this muscle elasticity, limited evidence assessed the inter-examiner reliability of this procedure. This study aimed to analyze the inter-examiner reliability for calculating Young's modulus and shear wave speed in a cohort of participants with and without chronic neck pain. A diagnostic accuracy study was conducted, acquiring a set of SWE images at the C5 level in participants with and without neck pain (n = 34 and 33, respectively) by two examiners (one experienced and one novel). After blinding the participants' identity, examiner involved, and side, the stiffness indicators were calculated by an independent rater in a randomized order. Intra-class correlation coefficients (ICC), standard error of measurement, minimal detectable changes, and coefficient of variation were calculated. Both cohorts had comparable sociodemographic characteristics (p > 0.05). No significant levator scapulae elasticity differences were found between genders, sides, or cohorts (all, p > 0.05). Inter-examiner reliability for calculating Young's modulus and shear wave speed was moderate-to-good for assessing asymptomatic individuals (ICC = 0.714 and 0.779, respectively), while poor-to-moderate in patients with neck pain (ICC = 0.461 and 0.546, respectively). The results obtained in this study support the use of this procedure for assessing asymptomatic individuals. However, reliability estimates were unacceptable to support its use for assessing elasticity in patients with chronic neck pain. Future studies might consider that the shear wave speed is more sensitive to detect real changes in comparison with Young's modulus.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Umut Varol
- Escuela Internacional de Doctorado, Universidad Rey Juan Carlos, 29222 Alcorcón, Spain; (U.V.); (M.D.K.)
| | - Juan Antonio Valera-Calero
- Department of Radiology, Rehabilitation and Physiotherapy, Universidad Complutense de Madrid, 28040 Madrid, Spain; (J.A.V.-C.); (M.J.N.-S.)
- Grupo InPhysio, Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria del Hospital Clínico San Carlos (IdISSC), 28040 Madrid, Spain
| | | | - César Fernández-de-las-Peñas
- Department of Physical Therapy, Occupational Therapy, Rehabilitation and Physical Medicine, Universidad Rey Juan Carlos, 28922 Alcorcón, Spain;
- Cátedra Institucional en Docencia, Clínica e Investigación en Fisioterapia: Terapia Manual, Punción Seca y Ejercicio Terapéutico, Universidad Rey Juan Carlos, 28922 Alcorcón, Spain
| | - Ricardo Ortega-Santiago
- Department of Physical Therapy, Occupational Therapy, Rehabilitation and Physical Medicine, Universidad Rey Juan Carlos, 28922 Alcorcón, Spain;
- Cátedra Institucional en Docencia, Clínica e Investigación en Fisioterapia: Terapia Manual, Punción Seca y Ejercicio Terapéutico, Universidad Rey Juan Carlos, 28922 Alcorcón, Spain
| | - Mateusz D. Kobylarz
- Escuela Internacional de Doctorado, Universidad Rey Juan Carlos, 29222 Alcorcón, Spain; (U.V.); (M.D.K.)
- Akademia Terapii Manualnej i Igłoterapii Suchej (ATMIS), 34-400 Nowy Targ, Poland
| | - Marcos José Navarro-Santana
- Department of Radiology, Rehabilitation and Physiotherapy, Universidad Complutense de Madrid, 28040 Madrid, Spain; (J.A.V.-C.); (M.J.N.-S.)
- Grupo InPhysio, Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria del Hospital Clínico San Carlos (IdISSC), 28040 Madrid, Spain
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Valera-Calero JA, Gómez-Sánchez S, Fernández-de-Las-Peñas C, Plaza-Manzano G, Sánchez-Jorge S, Navarro-Santana MJ. A Procedure for Measuring Anterior Scalene Morphology and Quality with Ultrasound Imaging: An Intra- and Inter-rater Reliability Study. ULTRASOUND IN MEDICINE & BIOLOGY 2023; 49:1817-1823. [PMID: 37188569 DOI: 10.1016/j.ultrasmedbio.2023.04.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/18/2023] [Revised: 03/20/2023] [Accepted: 04/15/2023] [Indexed: 05/17/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Ultrasound (US) imaging is an essential tool for clinicians because of its cost-effectiveness and accessibility for assessing multiple muscle metrics including muscle quality, size and shape. Although previous studies highlighted the importance of the anterior scalene muscle (AS) in patients with neck pain, studies analyzing the reliability of US measurements for this muscle are lacking. This study aimed to develop a protocol for assessing AS muscle shape and quality measured with US and investigating its intra- and inter-examiner reliability. METHODS Through use of a linear transducer, B-mode images of the anterolateral neck region at the C7 level were acquired in 28 healthy volunteers by two examiners (one experienced and one novel). Cross-sectional area, perimeter, shape descriptors and mean echo-intensity were measured twice by each examiner in randomized order. Intra-class correlation coefficients (ICCs), standard errors of measurement and minimal detectable changes were calculated. RESULTS Results indicated no muscle side-to-side asymmetries (p > 0.05). Gender differences were found for muscle size (p < 0.01), but muscle shape and brightness were comparable (p > 0.05). Intra-examiner reliability was good to excellent for all metrics for the experienced and (ICC >0.846) and novel (ICC >780) examiners. Although inter-examiner reliability was good for most of the metrics (ICC >0.709), the estimates for assessing solidity and circularity were unacceptable (ICC <0.70). CONCLUSION This study found that the described ultrasound procedure for locating and measuring anterior scalene muscle morphology and quality is highly reliable in asymptomatic individuals.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Juan Antonio Valera-Calero
- Department of Radiology, Rehabilitation and Physiotherapy, Universidad Complutense de Madrid, Madrid, Spain; Grupo In Physio, Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria del Hospital Clínico San Carlos (IdISSC), Madrid, Spain
| | | | - César Fernández-de-Las-Peñas
- Department of Physical Therapy, Occupational Therapy, Rehabilitation and Physical Medicine, Universidad Rey Juan Carlos, Alcorcón, Spain; Cátedra Institucional en Docencia, Clínica e Investigación en Fisioterapia: Terapia Manual, Punción Seca y Ejercicio Terapéutico, Universidad Rey Juan Carlos, Alcorcón, Spain
| | - Gustavo Plaza-Manzano
- Department of Radiology, Rehabilitation and Physiotherapy, Universidad Complutense de Madrid, Madrid, Spain; Grupo In Physio, Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria del Hospital Clínico San Carlos (IdISSC), Madrid, Spain.
| | - Sandra Sánchez-Jorge
- Faculty of Health Sciences, Universidad Francisco de Vitoria, Pozuelo de Alarcón, Spain
| | - Marcos José Navarro-Santana
- Department of Radiology, Rehabilitation and Physiotherapy, Universidad Complutense de Madrid, Madrid, Spain; Grupo In Physio, Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria del Hospital Clínico San Carlos (IdISSC), Madrid, Spain
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
Varol U, Valera-Calero JA, Fernández-de-las-Peñas C, Buffet-García J, Plaza-Manzano G, Navarro-Santana MJ. Body Composition and Demographic Features Do Not Affect the Diagnostic Accuracy of Shear Wave Elastography. Bioengineering (Basel) 2023; 10:904. [PMID: 37627789 PMCID: PMC10451656 DOI: 10.3390/bioengineering10080904] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/26/2023] [Revised: 07/21/2023] [Accepted: 07/28/2023] [Indexed: 08/27/2023] Open
Abstract
Shear-wave elastography (SWE) is an imaging method that can be used to estimate shear wave speed and the Young's modulus based on the measured shear wave speed under certain conditions. Up to date, no research has analyzed whether body composition factors contribute to ultrasound attenuation, refraction, reflection, and, consequently, SWE measurement errors. Therefore, this study aimed to analyze the association between demographic and body composition features with SWE errors for assessing the anterior scalene stiffness (which is a key structure in patients with neck pain and nerve compressive syndromes). Demographic (sex, age, height, weight, and body mass index), body composition (water volume, fat mass, and lean mass), and anterior scalene muscle stiffness (Young's modulus and shear wave speed) data were collected from a sample of asymptomatic subjects. After calculating the absolute SWE differences between trials and the reliability estimates, a correlation matrix was generated to quantify the association among all the variables. A total of 34 asymptomatic subjects (24 males) were included in the analyses. Test-retest reliability was excellent for assessing the Young's modulus and shear wave velocity (ICC = 0.912 and 0.923, respectively). No significant associations were found between age, height, weight, body mass index, body fat, lean mass, or water volume with SWE errors (p > 0.05). However, the Young's modulus error was associated with the stiffness properties (p < 0.01), whereas shear wave speed was associated with none of them (all, p > 0.05). A detailed procedure can reliably assess the AS muscle stiffness. None of the sociodemographic or body composition features assessed were correlated with SWE errors. However, baseline stiffness seems to be associated with Young's modulus error.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Umut Varol
- Escuela Internacional de Doctorado, Universidad Rey Juan Carlos, 28922 Alcorcón, Spain;
| | - Juan Antonio Valera-Calero
- Department of Radiology, Rehabilitation and Physiotherapy, Faculty of Nursery, Physiotherapy and Podiatry, Complutense University of Madrid, 28040 Madrid, Spain; (G.P.-M.); (M.J.N.-S.)
- Grupo InPhysio, Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria del Hospital Clínico San Carlos (IdISSC), 28040 Madrid, Spain
| | - César Fernández-de-las-Peñas
- Cátedra Institucional en Docencia, Clínica e Investigación en Fisioterapia: Terapia Manual, Punción Seca y Ejercicio Terapéutico, Universidad Rey Juan Carlos, 28922 Alcorcón, Spain;
- Department of Physical Therapy, Occupational Therapy, Rehabilitation and Physical Medicine, Universidad Rey Juan Carlos, 28922 Alcorcón, Spain
| | - Jorge Buffet-García
- Faculty of Health Sciences, Universidad Francisco de Vitoria, 28223 Pozuelo de Alarcón, Spain;
| | - Gustavo Plaza-Manzano
- Department of Radiology, Rehabilitation and Physiotherapy, Faculty of Nursery, Physiotherapy and Podiatry, Complutense University of Madrid, 28040 Madrid, Spain; (G.P.-M.); (M.J.N.-S.)
- Grupo InPhysio, Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria del Hospital Clínico San Carlos (IdISSC), 28040 Madrid, Spain
| | - Marcos José Navarro-Santana
- Department of Radiology, Rehabilitation and Physiotherapy, Faculty of Nursery, Physiotherapy and Podiatry, Complutense University of Madrid, 28040 Madrid, Spain; (G.P.-M.); (M.J.N.-S.)
- Grupo InPhysio, Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria del Hospital Clínico San Carlos (IdISSC), 28040 Madrid, Spain
| |
Collapse
|
5
|
Varol U, Navarro-Santana MJ, Valera-Calero JA, Antón-Ramírez S, Álvaro-Martínez J, Díaz-Arribas MJ, Fernández-de-las-Peñas C, Plaza-Manzano G. Convergent Validity between Electromyographic Muscle Activity, Ultrasound Muscle Thickness and Dynamometric Force Measurement for Assessing Muscle. SENSORS (BASEL, SWITZERLAND) 2023; 23:2030. [PMID: 36850629 PMCID: PMC9967681 DOI: 10.3390/s23042030] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/07/2022] [Revised: 02/06/2023] [Accepted: 02/07/2023] [Indexed: 06/18/2023]
Abstract
Muscle fatigue is defined as a reversible decline in performance after intensive use, which largely recovers after a resting period. Surface electromyography (EMG), ultrasound imaging (US) and dynamometry are used to assess muscle activity, muscle morphology and isometric force capacity. This study aimed to assess the convergent validity between these three methods for assessing muscle fatigue during a manual prehension maximal voluntary isometric contraction (MVIC). A diagnostic accuracy study was conducted, enrolling 50 healthy participants for the measurement of simultaneous changes in muscle thickness, muscle activity and isometric force using EMG, US and a hand dynamometer, respectively, during a 15 s MVIC. An adjustment line and its variance (R2) were calculated. Muscle activity and thickness were comparable between genders (p > 0.05). However, men exhibited lower force holding capacity (p < 0.05). No side-to-side or dominance differences were found for any variable. Significant correlations were found for the EMG slope with US (r = 0.359; p < 0.01) and dynamometry (r = 0.305; p < 0.01) slopes and between dynamometry and US slopes (r = 0.227; p < 0.05). The sample of this study was characterized by comparable muscle activity and muscle thickness change between genders. In addition, fatigue slopes were not associated with demography or anthropometry. Our findings showed fair convergent associations between these methods, providing synergistic muscle fatigue information.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Umut Varol
- Escuela Internacional de Doctorado, Universidad Rey Juan Carlos, 28933 Alcorcón, Spain
| | - Marcos J. Navarro-Santana
- Department of Radiology, Rehabilitation and Physiotherapy, Faculty of Nursery, Physiotherapy and Podiatry, Complutense University of Madrid, 28040 Madrid, Spain
- Grupo InPhysio, Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria San Carlos (IdISSC), 28040 Madrid, Spain
| | - Juan Antonio Valera-Calero
- Department of Radiology, Rehabilitation and Physiotherapy, Faculty of Nursery, Physiotherapy and Podiatry, Complutense University of Madrid, 28040 Madrid, Spain
- Grupo InPhysio, Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria San Carlos (IdISSC), 28040 Madrid, Spain
| | - Sergio Antón-Ramírez
- VALTRADOFI Research Group, Universidad Camilo José Cela, 28692 Villanueva de la Cañada, Spain
| | - Javier Álvaro-Martínez
- VALTRADOFI Research Group, Universidad Camilo José Cela, 28692 Villanueva de la Cañada, Spain
| | - María José Díaz-Arribas
- Department of Radiology, Rehabilitation and Physiotherapy, Faculty of Nursery, Physiotherapy and Podiatry, Complutense University of Madrid, 28040 Madrid, Spain
| | - César Fernández-de-las-Peñas
- Department of Physical Therapy, Occupational Therapy, Rehabilitation and Physical Medicine, Universidad Rey Juan Carlos, 28922 Alcorcón, Spain
- Cátedra Institucional en Docencia, Clínica e Investigación en Fisioterapia, Terapia Manual, Punción Seca y Ejercicio Terapéutico, Universidad Rey Juan Carlos, 28922 Alcorcón, Spain
| | - Gustavo Plaza-Manzano
- Department of Radiology, Rehabilitation and Physiotherapy, Faculty of Nursery, Physiotherapy and Podiatry, Complutense University of Madrid, 28040 Madrid, Spain
- Grupo InPhysio, Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria San Carlos (IdISSC), 28040 Madrid, Spain
| |
Collapse
|