Reliability and agreement of ultrasonographic thickness measurements of the common lateral extensors of the elbow.
In individuals with lateral elbow tendinopathy, the thickness of the common lateral extensors tendon can be evaluated by musculoskeletal ultrasonography (MSU) for diagnostic and evaluative purposes. The reproducibility of these thickness measurements should be established before integrating it into daily practice. A test-retest design was used to determine the reproducibility of these measurements in the longitudinal and transverse planes. Seventy-three healthy participants were measured two times by two raters. Intra-class correlation coefficient values for inter-rater reliability for the longitudinal and transverse planes were 0.67 and 0.49. Intra-class correlation coefficient values for intra-rater reliability varied between 0.73 and 0.92. The smallest detectable change ranged from 0.50 to 0.78 mm and comprised 9.8%-16.3% of the mean thickness. MSU thickness measurement of the common lateral extensors tendon of the elbow has fair to excellent intra- and inter-rater reliability. Additionally, agreement is acceptable, which makes MSU a valuable tool for the evaluation of tendon thickness over time.
Physical Therapy Science, Program in Clinical Health Sciences and Department of Rehabilitation, Nursing Science and Sport, Brain Center Rudolf Magnus, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht, The Netherlands; Physical Therapy Practice Emmastraat, Enschede, The Netherlands. Electronic address: marlijnteggeler@hotmail.com.
Marlijn
M
Teggeler
Department of Health Innovation and Technology, Fontys University of Applied Sciences, Eindhoven, The Netherlands.
Marc
M
Schmitz
Physical Therapy Science, Program in Clinical Health Sciences and Department of Rehabilitation, Nursing Science and Sport, Brain Center Rudolf Magnus, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht, The Netherlands; Hand Therapy Center, Enschede, The Netherlands.
Alexandra
A
Fink
Department of Health Innovation and Technology, Fontys University of Applied Sciences, Eindhoven, The Netherlands.
Jaap A C G
JA
Jansen
Physical Therapy Science, Program in Clinical Health Sciences and Department of Rehabilitation, Nursing Science and Sport, Brain Center Rudolf Magnus, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht, The Netherlands; Department of Health Innovation and Technology, Fontys University of Applied Sciences, Eindhoven, The Netherlands; Center for Physical Therapy Research and Innovation in Primary Care, Leidsche Rijn Julius Health Care Centers, Utrecht, The Netherlands.
Martijn F
MF
Pisters
D000328:Adult; D004551:Elbow Joint / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D015588:Observer Variation; D012016:Reference Values; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D013710:Tendons / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D014463:Ultrasonography
Lateral elbow tendinopathy; Musculoskeletal ultrasonography; Reproducibility; Ultrasonography