Intra‐ and Interimage Reliability of Inter‐Rectus Distance Measurements Determined via Ultrasound Imaging by the Same or Different Testers in Women in the Early Postpartum Period

• Published in: Journal of ultrasound in medicine 2024-06, Vol.43 (6), p.1037-1044
• Main Authors: Jiang, Qing, Gao, Ya, Xia, Shuyu, Gu, Yuefan, Gu, Jun, Guo, Jianfeng, Feng, Guannan, Deng, Qifeng, Deng, Xuedong
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Abdominal Muscles - diagnostic imaging; Adult; diastasis recti abdominis; Female; Humans; inter‐rectus distance; Observer Variation; Patient Positioning - methods; position; postpartum; Postpartum Period; posture; reliability; Reproducibility of Results; Ultrasonography - methods; ultrasound; Young Adult
• ISSN: 0278-4297; 1550-9613
• DOI: 10.1002/jum.16430

Objectives No consensus regarding the optimal position and location for the measurement of the inter‐rectus distance (IRD) via ultrasound (US) has been reached. By investigating the intra‐ and interimage reliability of IRD measurements taken in different positions and at different locations within and between testers, this study provides a theoretical basis for the current situation. Methods The IRD was measured via US in 46 women at 42–60 days after delivery at the superior margin of the umbilicus and 3 cm above, 5 cm above and 3 cm below the umbilicus while the women were in the supine, crunch and standing positions. In the interimage test, every participant was tested 2 times by Physician X and 1 time by Physician Y; in the intraimage test, the images collected by Physician X during the first test were saved in the machines, and two measurements were performed by Physician X and one measurement was performed by Physician Y. Paired t tests and intraclass correlation coefficients (ICCs) were calculated. Results Only the first IRD measurements by tester X and tester Y at 3 cm below the umbilicus in the crunch position were significantly different (9.56 ± 6.00 versus 11.00 ± 5.55) (P