title: Measuring ultrasound images of abdominal and lumbar multifidus muscles in older adults: A reliability study.
abstract: Measurement reliability of the L4/5 lumbar multifidus (MF) muscles is high in older adults, but few studies have investigated measurement reliability of the abdominal and upper lumbar MF muscles in this age group.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To determine measurement reliability of abdominal and lumbar MF muscles from a single ultrasound (US) image in older adults.
  
  
  METHODS
  Resting thickness of rectus abdominis and obliquus externus, resting and contracted thickness of obliquus internus, transversus abdominis and lumbar MF, and resting cross-sectional area (CSA) of MF levels (L2-5) were obtained from US images of 92 community-dwelling older adults (aged 65-89 years). Measurements of images were undertaken by an experienced rater and repeated 7-10 days later for intra-rater, and by a second expert rater for inter-rater calculations. Intra-rater reliability was estimated for all muscles. Inter-rater reliability was estimated for all abdominal muscles and for L5 multifidus. Reliability was estimated by intraclass correlation coefficients (ICC).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Intra-rater ICC(3,1) and inter-rater ICC(2,1) of resting thickness measures of all muscles and CSA of MF were ≥0.86. The ICCs for percentage thickness change were ≥0.76 for the abdominal muscles, and ≥0.42 for MF.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Measurement reliability of US imaging for abdominal and MF muscle thickness and MF CSA was high, and consistent with previous findings for younger adults. Reliability of percentage thickness change was lower suggesting caution is needed when using this as an outcome measure or study factor among older adults.
authors.affiliation: Menzies Institute for Medical Research, University of Tasmania, 17 Liverpool St, Hobart, Tasmania 7000, Australia.
authors.forename: Anitra
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Wilson
authors.affiliation: Centre for Musculoskeletal Research, Mary MacKillop Institute for Health Research, Australian Catholic University, 631 Stanley St, Woolloongabba, Queensland 4102, Australia.
authors.forename: Julie A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Hides
authors.affiliation: Menzies Institute for Medical Research, University of Tasmania, 17 Liverpool St, Hobart, Tasmania 7000, Australia.
authors.forename: Leigh
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Blizzard
authors.affiliation: Menzies Institute for Medical Research, University of Tasmania, 17 Liverpool St, Hobart, Tasmania 7000, Australia; Department of Medicine, School of Clinical Sciences at Monash Health, Monash University, 246 Clayton Road, Clayton, Melbourne, Victoria 3168, Australia.
authors.forename: Michele
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Callisaya
authors.affiliation: Centre for Musculoskeletal Research, Mary MacKillop Institute for Health Research, Australian Catholic University, 631 Stanley St, Woolloongabba, Queensland 4102, Australia.
authors.forename: Andrew
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Cooper
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, School of Clinical Sciences at Monash Health, Monash University, 246 Clayton Road, Clayton, Melbourne, Victoria 3168, Australia; Menzies Institute for Medical Research, University of Tasmania, 17 Liverpool St, Hobart, Tasmania 7000, Australia.
authors.forename: Velandai K
authors.initials: VK
authors.lastname: Srikanth
authors.affiliation: Menzies Institute for Medical Research, University of Tasmania, 17 Liverpool St, Hobart, Tasmania 7000, Australia; Faculty of Health, University of Tasmania, 17 Liverpool St, Hobart, Tasmania 7000, Australia. Electronic address: Tania.Winzenberg@utas.edu.au.
authors.forename: Tania
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Winzenberg
mesh_terms: D000009:Abdominal Muscles / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000502:physiology*; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008161:Lumbosacral Region / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000503:physiopathology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009119:Muscle Contraction / Q000502:physiology*; D064170:Paraspinal Muscles / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000503:physiopathology*; D014463:Ultrasonography
keywords: Abdominal muscles; Older adults; Paraspinal muscles; Reliability; Ultrasound imaging