Background: The Abductor hallucis muscle (AbdH) plays an integral role during gait and is often affected in pathological foot conditions. The aim of this study was to evaluate the within and between-session intra-tester reliability using diagnostic ultrasound of the dorso-plantar thickness, medio-lateral width and cross-sectional area, of the AbdH in asymptomatic adults.

BackgroundDiagnostic ultrasound provides a method of analysing soft tissue structures of the musculoskeletal system effectively and reliably. The aim of this study was to evaluate within and between session reliability of measuring muscle dorso-plantar thickness, medio-lateral length and cross-sectional area, of the abductor hallucis muscle using two different ultrasound machines, a higher end Philips HD11 Ultrasound machine and clinically orientated Chison 8300 Deluxe Digital Portable Ultrasound System.MethodsThe abductor hallucis muscle of both the left and right feet of thirty asymptomatic participants was imaged and then measured using both ultrasound machines. Interclass correlation coefficients (ICC) with 95% confidence intervals (CI) were used to calculate both within and between session intra-tester reliability. Standard error of the measurement (SEM) calculations were undertaken to assess difference between the actual measured score across trials and the smallest real difference (SRD) was calculated from the SEM to indicate the degree of change that would exceed the expected trial to trial variability.ResultsThe ICCs, SEM and SRD for dorso-plantar thickness and medial-lateral length were shown to have excellent to high within and between-session reliability for both ultrasound machines. The between-session reliability indices for cross-sectional area were acceptable for both ultrasound machines.ConclusionThe results of the current study suggest that regardless of the type ultrasound machine, intra-tester reliability for the measurement the abductor hallucis muscle parameters is very high.

Objective: To study sleep quality and sleep hygiene in professional athletes and an age-matched cohort. Design: Cross-sectional study. Setting: Professional athletes and a sport medicine center. Participants: Professional rugby, netball and football athletes (n = 184) and attendees to a sport medicine center (n = 101). Interventions: Participants completed an online survey. Main Outcome Measures: Sleep Hygiene Index (SHI) and Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI). Results: Forty-five percent (n = 128) of respondents were aged between 18 and 24 years, 54% (n = 154) were men and 65% (n = 184) were professional athletes. The sleep duration of the professional athletes (mean rank 134.3, n = 181) was greater than the age-matched cohort (mean rank = 154.4, n = 101), U = 7835.0, z = −2.3, P = 0.02; however, they reported more sleep disturbance (mean ranking = 148.0, n = 181) than the age-matched cohort (mean rank = 129.8, n = 101), U = 7960.5 z = −2.5, P = 0.01, 2–tailed. Professional athletes had worse sleep regularity (mean rank = 152.3, n = 183) compared with the age-matched cohort (mean rank = 124.6, n = 101), U = 7448.5, z = −2.7, P = 0.006, 2-tailed, had an inferior sleep environment (mean rank = 149.5, n = 183) compared with the age-matched cohort (mean rank = 129.8, n = 101), U = 7959.5, z = −2.0, P = 0.047, and had more naps (mean rank = 156.2, n = 183) compared with the age-matched cohort (mean rank = 117.6, n = 101), U = 6729.0, z = −4.2, P = 0.00 0, 2-tailed. Conclusions: Professional athletes reported poorer sleep quality and sleep hygiene compared with an age-matched cohort, and difficulty falling asleep following competition. It is likely this is due to the stress of competition, training, and traveling. Because sleep plays an important role in postexercise recovery and has an impact on injury and athletic performance, it is important to have strategies to support better sleep quality and sleep hygiene in athletes.

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