Intra and inter-rater reliability of infrared image analysis of masticatory and upper trapezius muscles in women with and without temporomandibular disorder

Abstract

| Background: Infrared thermography is an aid tool that can be used to evaluate several pathologies given its efficiency in analyzing the distribution of skin surface temperature. Objectives: To propose two forms of infrared image analysis of the masticatory and upper trapezius muscles, and to determine the intra and inter-rater reliability of both forms of analysis. Method: Infrared images of masticatory and upper trapezius muscles of 64 female volunteers with and without temporomandibular disorder (TMD) were collected. Two raters performed the infrared image analysis, which occurred in two ways: temperature measurement of the muscle length and in central portion of the muscle. The Intraclass Correlation Coefficient (ICC) was used to determine the intra and inter-rater reliability. Results: The ICC showed excellent intra and inter-rater values for both measurements: temperature measurement of the muscle length (TMD group, intra-rater, ICC ranged from 0.996 to 0.999, inter-rater, ICC ranged from 0.992 to 0.999; control group, intra-rater, ICC ranged from 0.993 to 0.998, inter-rater, ICC ranged from 0.990 to 0.998), and temperature measurement of the central portion of the muscle (TMD group, intra-rater, ICC ranged from 0.981 to 0.998, inter-rater, ICC ranged from 0.971 to 0.998; control group, intra-rater, ICC ranged from 0.887 to 0.996, inter-rater, ICC ranged from 0.852 to 0.996). Conclusion: The results indicated that temperature measurements of the masticatory and upper trapezius muscles carried out by the analysis of the muscle length and central portion yielded excellent intra and inter-rater reliability.Keywords: physical therapy; temporomandibular joint disorder; reliability; thermography; skin temperature. HOW TO THE CITE ARTICLECosta ACS, Dibai Filho AV, Packer AC, Rodrigues-Bigaton D. Intra and inter-rater reliability of infrared image analysis of masticatory and upper trapezius muscles in women with and without temporomandibular disorder. Braz J Phys Ther. 2013 JanFeb; 17(1): 24-31. http://dx.doi.org/10.1590/S1413-35552012005000058 RESUMO| Contextualização: A termografia infravermelha vem sendo utilizada como instrumento auxiliar na avaliação de patologias diversas, dada a sua eficiência na investigação da distribuição da temperatura superficial cutânea. Objetivos: Propor duas formas de análise das imagens infravermelhas dos músculos mastigatórios e trapézio superior e determinar a confiabilidade intra e interexaminador dessas duas formas de análise. Método: Foram coletadas imagens infravermelhas dos músculos mastigatórios e trapézio superior de 64 voluntárias do gênero feminino, com e sem disfunção temporomandibular (DTM). A análise das imagens infravermelhas ocorreu de duas formas: mensuração da temperatura da extensão do músculo e do centro do músculo, sendo realizada por dois examinadores. A confiabilidade intra e interexaminador foi verificada por meio do Coeficiente de Correlação Intraclasse (CCI). Resultados: Os valores do CCI intra e interexaminador foram considerados excelentes em a...

Influence of Phototherapy on Thermographic Images and Pain in Individuals with Temporomandibular Disorder: Protocol for a Randomized, Placebo-Controlled, Double-Blind Clinical Trial

“…43 Infrared thermography has been described in the literature as an assessment tool for individuals with different adverse health conditions, such as carpal tunnel syndrome, 44 breast cancer, 45 circulatory changes, 46 myofascial disorders 31 and TMD. 17,18 This painless, noninvasive, non-ionizing method does not require contact with the region being evaluated, thereby offering safety and comfort to the patient. 15 A number of studies have been conducted, but there is still no consensus.…”

“…However, Costa, et al 18 evaluated the reliability of two forms of infrared image analysis of the masticatory muscles and upper trapezius muscle in women with and without TMD and found that both forms of analysis demonstrated excellent intra-examiner and inter-examiner reliability. The authors proposed both evaluation methods for these muscles, especially when the goal is to evaluate the effect of therapeutic resources.…”

Thermographic: a tool of aid in physical therapy diagnosis – literature review

“…Costa et al (3) Intra and inter-rater reliability of infrared image analysis of masticatory and upper trapezius muscles in women with and without temporomandibular disorder.…”

“…(2) Computerized Infrared thermography is used as an effective tool for the diagnosis of various diseases because of its efficiency in the analysis of temperature distribution on the skin surface. (1)(2)(3)(4)(5)(6) There is an advantage use the fact that a procedure safe, noninvasive, that does not involve ionizing radiation and provides objective parameters for evaluation. (2,5,7) The human body exhibits a thermal symmetry.…”

Trastornos temporomandibulares: algunas consideraciones de su etiología y diagnóstico

“…Pueden ser de gran utilidad la radiografía panorámica [64], la resonancia magnética [65,66], la tomografía axial computarizada [67], o herramientas más específicas como la imagenología infrarroja para determinar, mediante el comportamiento tér-mico, el estado de los músculos masticatorios [68].…”