title: Intra-rater reliability of B-mode ultrasound imaging of the abdominal muscles in healthy adolescents during the active straight leg raise test.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  To date, the reliability of ultrasound imaging (USI) measures of the abdominal muscles in children and adolescents during the active straight leg raise (ASLR) test has not been confirmed.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To assess the intra-rater reliability of USI measures of the thickness and percentage thickness change of the external oblique (EO), internal oblique (IO), and transversus abdominis (TrA) on both sides of the body during the ASLR test in healthy adolescents.
  
  
  METHODS
  Single-group repeated-measures intra-rater reliability study.
  
  
  METHODS
  School.
  
  
  METHODS
  Thirty-nine adolescents between the ages of 13 and 16 years.
  
  
  METHODS
  Three repeated USI measurements were recorded in the supine resting position and during the ASLR test at 2 sessions, 6 to 8 days apart. In the supine position, measurements were collected at the end of normal expiration. In the case of ASLR, measurements were collected when the person undergoing examination touched the transverse delimiter with the distal part of their lower leg, that is, to a 30° flexion of the hip.
  
  
  METHODS
  USI of abdominal muscle thickness.
  
  
  RESULTS
  By using the mean of 3 measures in the supine, resting position, intra-examiner reliability point estimates (intraclass correlation coefficient [ICC]3.3) ranged from 0.95 to 0.97 for EO, IO, and TrA. During the ASLR test, the ICC result of thickness measurements of all muscles was also above 0.90. In terms of percentage change of muscle thickness, the highest ICC3.3 result obtained for the TrA was 0.81-0.85; for EO the result ranged from 0.72-0.89, and the result for the IO was between 0.65 and 0.79.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  USI measurements of the thickness of the EO, IO, and TrA muscles at rest and during the ASLR test in healthy adolescents between 13 and 16 years of age are reliable. Because of an increase in the precision of measurements, we recommend using the mean of 3 consecutive measurements of the EO, IO, and TrA muscles in adolescents to ensure a good reliability level. Based on 3 consecutive measurements, good reliability for the percentage change in the TrA thickness was achieved.
authors.affiliation: Department of Kinesitherapy and Special Methods in Physiotherapy, The Jerzy Kukuczka Academy of Physical Education, 40-065, Mikolowska 72B, Katowice, Poland.(∗). Electronic address: linek.fizjoterapia@vp.pl.
authors.forename: Pawel
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Linek
authors.affiliation: Department of Kinesitherapy and Special Methods in Physiotherapy, The Jerzy Kukuczka Academy of Physical Education, 40-065, Mikolowska 72B, Katowice, Poland.(†).
authors.forename: Edward
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Saulicz
authors.affiliation: Department of Kinesitherapy and Special Methods in Physiotherapy, The Jerzy Kukuczka Academy of Physical Education, 40-065, Mikolowska 72B, Katowice, Poland.(‡).
authors.forename: Tomasz
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Wolny
authors.affiliation: Department of Kinesitherapy and Special Methods in Physiotherapy, The Jerzy Kukuczka Academy of Physical Education, 40-065, Mikolowska 72B, Katowice, Poland.(§).
authors.forename: Andrzej
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Myśliwiec
mesh_terms: D000009:Abdominal Muscles / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000502:physiology; D000293:Adolescent; D003952:Diagnostic Imaging; D005081:Exercise Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D064368:Healthy Volunteers; D006801:Humans; D007866:Leg / Q000502:physiology*; D017116:Low Back Pain / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D008297:Male; D009119:Muscle Contraction / Q000502:physiology; D012372:ROC Curve; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012146:Rest / Q000502:physiology*; D014463:Ultrasonography