Lateral Abdominal Muscles Shear Modulus and Thickness Measurements under Controlled Ultrasound Probe Compression by External Force Sensor: A Comparison and Reliability Study

The aim of this study was to perform a reliability and agreement analysis and to compare lateral abdominal muscles (LAMs) thickness and elasticity results obtained by an experienced operator, by a non-experienced operator, and in an ultrasound imaging probe compression controlled (PCC) condition wit...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Sensors (Basel, Switzerland) Switzerland), 2021-06, Vol.21 (12), p.4036
Main Authors: Mikołajowski, Grzegorz, Pałac, Małgorzata, Wolny, Tomasz, Linek, Paweł
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Abdomen
abdominal muscles
adolescence
Agreements
Communication
Correlation coefficients
Elasticity
Muscles
Pediatrics
Population
Pressure sensors
reliability
Reliability analysis
Reproducibility
Scoliosis
Sensors
Shear modulus
Skin
Teenagers
Thickness measurement
Ultrasonic imaging
Ultrasonic scanners
ultrasound imaging
validity
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Summary:The aim of this study was to perform a reliability and agreement analysis and to compare lateral abdominal muscles (LAMs) thickness and elasticity results obtained by an experienced operator, by a non-experienced operator, and in an ultrasound imaging probe compression controlled (PCC) condition with minimal force necessary to obtain a proper ultrasound image. The sample consisted of 39 adolescents. An Aixplorer ultrasound scanner was used to evaluate the LAM. The probe in PCC condition was positioned in a prepared probe holder coupled with a pressure sensor. The LAM thickness and elasticity measurements were significantly (p < 0.05) different in the ultrasound PCC condition, compared to results obtained by both examiners. The abdominal oblique external and internal muscle thickness measurements were underestimated and all LAM shear moduli were overestimated during measurements without controlling the probe compression by an external sensor. The intra-class correlation coefficient was excellent in all conditions, but the smallest detectable differences were approximately 43–60% lower during the measurements collected in PCC condition. Differences in LAM measurements between PCC and ‘on-hand’ conditions may be clinically irrelevant when the force applied by the probe is consciously controlled by the examiner. However, during ultrasound measurements of the LAM morphology, the potential under/over estimation should always be considered when measurements are performed without controlling probe compression by an external sensor.
ISSN:1424-8220
1424-8220
DOI:10.3390/s21124036