Work

Reliability of lumbar multifidus and iliocostalis lumborum thickness and echogenicity measurements using ultrasound imaging

Year: 2021

Type: article

Abstract: Purpose To establish the test–retest and inter‐rater reliability of lumbar multifidus (LM) and iliocostalis lumborum (IL) muscle thickness and echogenicity as derived using ultrasound imaging. Methods Ultrasound images of the LM and IL were collected from 11 healthy participants on two occasions, 1 week apart, by two independent assessors. Measures of LM and IL thickness and echogenicity were subject to test–retest and inter‐rater reliability, which was assessed by calculation of an F statistic, the interclass correlation coefficient (ICC), the standard error of measurement, 95% confidence intervals and Bland–Altman plots. This study was given approval by The University of Melbourne Behavioural and Social Sciences Human Ethics Sub‐Committee (ref: 1749845). Results Assessors A and B showed good to excellent test–retest reliability for LM thickness (ICC3,3 A: 0.89 and B: 0.98), LM echogenicity (ICC3,3 A: 0.93 and B: 0.95) and IL echogenicity (ICC3,3 A: 0.87 and B: 0.83). Test–retest reliability for IL thickness was poor for Assessor A but excellent for Assessor B. Both assessors demonstrated excellent inter‐rater reliability for LM thickness and echogenicity (ICC2,3: 0.79 and 0.94), but poor reliability for IL thickness and echogenicity (ICC2,3: 0.00 and 0.39). Conclusions Inter‐rater and test–retest reliability was excellent for LM but was less reliable for measures of the IL muscle.

Source: Australasian Journal of Ultrasound in Medicine

DOI: 10.1002/ajum.12273