Reliability of ultrasonographic measurement of the architecture of the vastus lateralis and gastrocnemius medialis muscles in older adults

Abstract

The ability of these tests to determine a real change in VL and GM muscle architecture is good on a group level but problematic on an individual level as the relatively large 95% ratio LOAs in the current study may encompass the changes in architecture observed in other training studies. Therefore, the current findings suggest that B-mode ultrasonography can be used with confidence by researchers when investigating changes in muscle architecture in groups of older adults, but its use is limited in showing changes in individuals over time.

Reliability of rehabilitative ultrasound imaging for the medial gastrocnemius muscle in poststroke patients

“…These findings are consistent with those of previous studies that investigated the architecture of the medial gastrocnemius muscle in young children (ICC of 0Á94-0Á98 for thickness and 0Á85-0Á96 for medial gastrocnemius muscle pennation angle) (Legerlotz et al, 2010) and older adults (ICC of 0Á92-0Á99 for thickness and ICC of 0Á85-0Á94 for medial gastrocnemius muscle pennation angle) (Raj et al, 2012), and it supported our primary hypothesis that RUSI measurements of medial gastrocnemius muscle thickness and pennation angle are adequately reliable for research and clinical use in poststroke patients. These findings are consistent with those of previous studies that investigated the architecture of the medial gastrocnemius muscle in young children (ICC of 0Á94-0Á98 for thickness and 0Á85-0Á96 for medial gastrocnemius muscle pennation angle) (Legerlotz et al, 2010) and older adults (ICC of 0Á92-0Á99 for thickness and ICC of 0Á85-0Á94 for medial gastrocnemius muscle pennation angle) (Raj et al, 2012), and it supported our primary hypothesis that RUSI measurements of medial gastrocnemius muscle thickness and pennation angle are adequately reliable for research and clinical use in poststroke patients.…”

“…1). A modified ankle-foot orthosis was placed on the foot and lower leg to fix the ankle joint angle at 90°(neutral position) (Raj et al, 2012).…”

“…The transducer probe was positioned perpendicular to the long axis of the leg, at the midpoint of the medial gastrocnemius muscle belly found at the centre of the muscle, halfway between its medial and posterior borders (Raj et al, 2012). The transducer probe was positioned perpendicular to the long axis of the leg, at the midpoint of the medial gastrocnemius muscle belly found at the centre of the muscle, halfway between its medial and posterior borders (Raj et al, 2012).…”

“…Ultrasonography has traditionally been regarded as a valuable tool in clinical practice for qualitative evaluation of the integrity of musculoskeletal structures (Collinger et al, 2009). It has been used to measure changes in muscle thickness, fibre pennation angle, fascicle length (Legerlotz et al, 2010;Raj et al, 2012), dimension (Reeves et al, 2004) and cross-sectional area (Maganaris et al, 2006). It has been used to measure changes in muscle thickness, fibre pennation angle, fascicle length (Legerlotz et al, 2010;Raj et al, 2012), dimension (Reeves et al, 2004) and cross-sectional area (Maganaris et al, 2006).…”

Morphological and functional relationships with ultrasound measured muscle thickness of the lower extremity: a brief review

“…Reported estimates of reliability were good to high. [13][14][15][16][17][18][19][20][21] With the exception of a study reported by Thoirs and Englsh, 15 the reported intrarater correlation coefficients (ICC) among studies ranged between 0.90 and 0.99. Thoirs and Englsh 15 reported that high test-retest reliability was indicated in the lower extremity when subjects were measured in a standing position (ICC, 0.70-0.89; 95% confidence interval (CI), 0.79-0.94 for anterior thigh and 0.49-0.84 for posterior thigh, respectively).…”