TY  - JOUR
A1  - König, Niklas
A1  - Cassel, Michael
A1  - Intziegianni, Konstantina
A1  - Mayer, Frank
T1  - Inter-rater reliability and measurement error of sonographic muscle architecture assessments
JF  - Journal of ultrasound in medicine
N2  - Objectives-Sonography of muscle architecture provides physicians and researchers with information about muscle function and muscle-related disorders. Inter-rater reliability is a crucial parameter in daily clinical routines. The aim of this study was to assess the inter-rater reliability of sonographic muscle architecture assessments and quantification of errors that arise from inconsistent probe positioning and image interpretation.
 Results-Inter-rater reliability was good overall (ICC, 0.77-0.90; IRV, 9.0%-13.4%; bias LoA, 0.2 +/- 0.2-1.7 +/- 3.0). Superior and inferior pennation angles showed high systematic bias and LoA in all setups, ranging from 2.0 degrees +/- 2.2 degrees to 3.4 degrees +/- 4.1 degrees. The highest IRV was found for muscle thickness (13.4%). "When the probe position was standardized, the SEM for muscle thickness decreased from 0.1 to 0.05 cm.
 Conclusions-Sonographic examination of muscle architecture of the medial gastrocnemius has good to high reliability. In contrast to pennation angle measurements, length measurements can be improved by standardization of the probe position.
KW  - gastrocnemius muscle
KW  - inter-rater variability
KW  - muscle architecture
KW  - musculoskeletal ultrasound
KW  - sonography
Y1  - 2014
U6  - https://doi.org/10.7863/ultra.33.5.769
SN  - 0278-4297
SN  - 1550-9613
VL  - 33
IS  - 5
SP  - 769
EP  - 777
PB  - American Institute of Ultrasound in Medicine
CY  - Laurel
ER  -