Intra and Inter-Rater Measurement Reliability of Tibialis Anterior Muscle (TA) Thickness using the Ultrasonography Spring Gauge Technique

ABSTRACT

Purpose@#The purpose of the current study was to determine the intra- and inter-rater reliability of muscle thickness measurement of the TA using ultrasonography (US) conducted at different inward pressures of approximately 0.5 kg, 1.0 kg, and no pressure control. @*Methods@#Twenty healthy subjects were recruited for this study. Two different examiners measured the thicknesses of the dominant TA of each subject randomly to assess the intra- and inter-rater reliability. The measurement values were analyzed using the intra-class correlation coefficient (ICC) with a 95% confidence interval, standard error of measurement, minimal detectable change, and coefficient of variance. @*Results@#All intra-rater reliability ICC values showed high reliability above 0.9. Inter-rater reliability ICC values showed high reliability above 0.9 with 0.5 and 1.0 kg of inward pressure. In contrast, Inter-rater reliability ICC values showed poor reliability (0.23) with no pressure control of inward pressure. @*Conclusion@#The findings showed that maintaining consistent inward pressure is essential for reliable results when the muscle thickness of the TA is measured by different examiners in a clinical setting.