title: Inter-rater reliability of trunk muscle morphometric analysis.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Inter-rater reliability of generalised lumbar extensor muscle CSA has been identified, however, more detailed reliability metrics of individual trunk muscles are lacking.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To report muscle volume and muscle fatty infiltrate (MFI) inter-rater reliability of individual trunk muscles between two novice assessors.
  
  
  METHODS
  Lumbar axial MRI scans from 10 healthy male participants were analysed. The muscles erector spinae (ES), multifidus (M), rectus abdominis (RA), and psoas (PS) were manually traced, region of interest quantified and muscle volume and MFI determined by both assessors. Agreement between the assessors was determined using intraclass correlation coefficients (3,1), Bland-Altman plots and Lin's concordance coefficient.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Good to excellent agreement was found for volume (ICC 0.77-0.96) and MFI (0.84-0.96) for all muscles on first evaluation, except for M volume, which required a second evaluation. Best agreement for muscle volume and MFI was found for ES (ICC 0.96).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  First evaluation of muscle volume and MFI yields high to excellent inter-rater agreement, except for M, where further training and/or experience is required to achieve acceptable reliability outcomes. This may have clinical implications due to the relevance of M atrophy reported in patients with low back pain.
authors: Movement Science Group Vienna, Equine Clinic, University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna, Vienna, Austria.
authors: Stephanie
authors: S
authors: Valentin
authors: Department of Physical Therapy and Human Movement Sciences, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL, USA.
authors: Tobey DeMott
authors: TD
authors: Yeates
authors: Movement Science Group Vienna, Equine Clinic, University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna, Vienna, Austria Large Animal Hospital, Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies, University of Edinburgh, Roslin, Scotland, UK.
authors: Theresia
authors: T
authors: Licka
authors: Department of Physical Therapy and Human Movement Sciences, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL, USA School of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences, The University of Queensland, Queensland, Australia.
authors: James
authors: J
authors: Elliott
mesh_terms: D000009:Abdominal Muscles / Q000033:anatomy & histology*; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D064131:Back Muscles / Q000033:anatomy & histology*; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009929:Organ Size / Q000502:physiology; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D060726:Torso / Q000033:anatomy & histology*; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Inter-rater reliability; MRI; agreement; lumbar spine; muscle
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