Assessment methods of vastus lateralis muscle architecture using panoramic ultrasound: a new approach, test-retest reliability and measurement error

Abstract

Extended-field-of-view ultrasonography is a valid alternative to determine the dimensions of the skeletal striated muscle; however, some factors may influence the final measurement. The aim of this study was to determine the test-retest reliability and measurement error of vastus lateralis muscle architecture variables through internal anatomical landmarks and to compare three fixed determined points using extended-field-of-view ultrasonography. Twelve young (24 ± 6 years) adult university male students participated in the study. Images were obtained through extended-field-of-view ultrasonography of the vastus lateralis muscle. Measurements were made for muscle thickness (MT), fascicle length (FL), and fascicle pennation angle (FA) using a method that identifies internal anatomical landmarks. MT was also measured at predetermined distances of 2 cm proximal, 6 cm proximal, and 2 cm distal. One-way ANOVA with repeated measures did not identify any test-retest significant differences for all variables measured. Typical measurement error in centimeters (cm) or degrees (º), coefficient of variation in percentage (%) and intraclass correlation coefficient were MT = 0.07 cm, 2.93%, 0.964; FL = 0.31 cm, 2.89%, 0.947; FA = 0.92°, 4.08%, 0.942; MT 2 cm proximal = 0.10 cm, 3.77%, 0.910; MT 6 cm proximal = 0.27 cm, 9.66%, 0.576; MT 2 cm distal = 0.35 cm, 19.76%, 0.564. MT, FL and FA showed high reliability and low measurement error. Internal anatomical landmarks proved to be more reliable and presented smaller measurement errors when compared to the predetermined distances method.

Comprimento do fascículo muscular obtido pela ultrassonografia panorâmica e estimado por equações de predição

“…In a recent study carried out by our laboratory, it was observed that measurements performed on different days have high consistency (ICC MT = 0.964; ICC FL = 0.947; ICC FA = 0.942), low absolute error (TEM MT = 0.07 cm; TEM FL = 0.31 cm; TEM FA = = 0.92º), and low variability between measurements (CV MT = 2.9%; CV FL = 2.9%; CV FA = 4.1%) [21]. Thus, it is possible to attribute a greater power of certainty to the results of the comparison between the FL obtained by the panoramic US and estimated by equations 1 and 2 that used the variables MT, FA, and the FL itself for the prediction calculation.…”

Validity, reliability and measurement error of quadriceps femoris muscle thickness obtained by ultrasound in healthy adults: a systematic review

“…Of the 26 studies included, 4 were validity studies [18][19][20][21] , and 4 were reliability only [22][23][24][25] . Eighteen were of reliability and measurement error [26][27][28][29][30][31][32][33][34][35][36][37][38][39][40][41][42][43] . Four hundred ninety subjects were included, from which 311 men, 164 women, and 15 were not identified.…”

“…Our laboratory experience indicates that the methodological care of the entire process, associated with the constant training of the raters, has decreased TEM. In the first study, our group presented an intra-rater TEM of 0.07 cm for vastus lateralis MT 43 . In a recent study, intra-and inter-rater TEM decreased to 0.01 to 0.03 cm for the same variable 26 .…”

“…This value is a less arbitrary and evidence-based way to define a reasonable cut-off point for the measurement error of quadriceps femoris MT in healthy adults. Previous studies show that it is possible to achieve this index when raters are trained to collect and analyze the measure 26,28,29,31,32,37,43 .…”