Reliability and Precision of Sonography of the Lumbar Multifidus and Transversus Abdominis During Dynamic Activities

Abstract

Objectives To determine the intrarater reliability and precision of lumbar multifidus and transversus abdominis thickness measurements using freehand sonography in a range of static and dynamic conditions. Methods Fifteen asymptomatic participants performed a range of exercises while sonography was used to measure absolute muscle thickness and changes in muscle thickness from rest. Exercise conditions included the abdominal drawing‐in maneuver, active straight leg raise, contralateral arm lift, both unloaded and loaded, treadmill walking, and using the Functional Readaptive Exercise Device. Intraday and interday reliability was assessed by intraclass correlation coefficients, and the standard error of measurement was used to assess measurement precision. Results Good to excellent reliability was achieved for absolute transversus abdominis and lumbar multifidus thickness in all conditions. Measurement precision for absolute lumbar multifidus thickness was ≤2.8 mm for the unloaded contralateral arm lift, ≤1.8 mm for the loaded contralateral arm lift, ≤3.1 mm for treadmill walking, and ≤3.8 mm for the Functional Readaptive Exercise Device; for absolute transversus abdominis thickness, precision was ≤0.6 mm for the abdominal drawing‐in maneuver, ≤0.5 mm for the active straight leg raise, ≤0.7 mm for treadmill walking, and ≤0.5 mm for the Functional Readaptive Exercise Device. Good to excellent reliability was achieved for relative transversus abdominis and lumbar multifidus thickness in all conditions. Measurement precision for relative lumbar multifidus thickness was ≤3.7% for the unloaded contralateral arm lift, ≤3.8% for the loaded contralateral arm lift, ≤6.3% for treadmill walking, and ≤7.6% for the Functional Readaptive Exercise Device; for relative transversus abdominis thickness, precision was ≤13.6% for the abdominal drawing‐in maneuver, ≤6.9% for the active straight leg raise, ≤11.1% for treadmill walking, and ≤7.2% for the Functional Readaptive Exercise Device. Conclusions Acceptable reliability and precision of measurement is achieved for absolute and relative measures of deep spinal muscle thickness using freehand sonography in relatively static and dynamic exercises.

Ultrasound imaging of abdominal muscles activity among women with stress urinary incontinence: case-control study in Poland

“…In the present study, there were no statistically significant differences observed in the musculus transversus abdominis thickness values during each assessed activity, though the average muscle thickness among healthy women was higher than in the group of women with SUI symptoms -a similar finding to the results of the study by Madokoro et al [22].…”

“…The reliability, validity and safety of ultrasound imaging as a means of assessment of abdominal muscle thickness, for example in order to evaluate muscle activity, has been borne out by several past clinical studies [21][22][23][24]. Moreover, the ultrasound imaging is still the part of the "gold standard" in the gynaecological imaging options [25].…”

Reliability of Sonography Measures of the Lumbar Multifidus and Transversus Abdominis during Static and Dynamic Activities in Subjects with Non-Specific Chronic Low Back Pain

“…The results of this study suggest that US measurements of muscle thickness and CR in participants with and without NCLBP during static and dynamic positions exhibit good to high reliability. These results are consistent with the available literature on US measurements of TA and LM muscles thickness [31,32].…”

Ultrasonography of Paravertebral Muscles of Patients with Lumbar Spine Degenerative Diseases and Prognosis of their Surgical Treatment Results

“…K. C. Gibbon і співавт. [21] провели дослідження точності вимірювань товщини паравертебральних м'язів за допомогою УСГ, в результаті якого дійшли висновку про достатню надійність цього методу, хоча він і поступається МРТ [22]. Під час сканування здорових тканин за допомогою УСГ візуалізують чітку фасцикулярну структуру м'язів: м'язові волокна мають низьку ехогенність (тобто виглядають практично чорними), а сполучнотканинні елементи (перимізій та епімізій)підвищену (виглядають практично білими) [23].…”