Reliability of lower leg muscle thickness measurement along the long axis of the muscle using ultrasound imaging, in a sitting position

Ryo Miyachi; Yuji Kanazawa; Yoshinari Fujii; Naoki Ohno; Tosiaki Miyati; Toshiaki Yamazaki

doi:10.1589/jpts.34.515

Reliability of lower leg muscle thickness measurement along the long axis of the muscle using ultrasound imaging, in a sitting position

J Phys Ther Sci. 2022 Jul;34(7):515-521. doi: 10.1589/jpts.34.515. Epub 2022 Jul 1.

Authors

Ryo Miyachi^{1

2}, Yuji Kanazawa¹, Yoshinari Fujii¹, Naoki Ohno², Tosiaki Miyati², Toshiaki Yamazaki²

Affiliations

¹ Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, Hokuriku University: 1-1 Taiyogaoka, Kanazawa-shi, Ishikawa 920-1180, Japan.
² Faculty of Health Sciences, Institute of Medical, Pharmaceutical and Health Sciences, Kanazawa University, Japan.

Abstract

[Purpose] To verify the reliability and validity of lower leg muscle thickness (MT) assessment along the muscle's long axis using ultrasound imaging (USI) in a sitting position. [Participants and Methods] Twenty healthy adult female participants (aged, 20.3 ± 0.9 years) were included in the study. Intra- and inter-examiner reliability of the proximal, middle, and distal MT of the tibialis anterior (TA) and medial head of the gastrocnemius (GM) were verified using USI in a sitting position. Additionally, the relationship between MT measurement using USI and muscle cross-sectional area (MCSA) measurement using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), as well as the ankle joint's maximum muscle strength, were examined. [Results] The reliability of TA and GM MT measurement using USI was high for all regions. The relationship between MCSA measurement using MRI and MT measurement using USI showed a significant correlation in all the regions for both muscles. The relationship between ankle muscle strength and USI of MT was not significantly correlated in any region for both muscles. [Conclusion] Measurement of MT using USI is reliable and valid for MCSA, but must be combined with assessments of other factors for muscle strength.

Keywords: Lower leg muscle; Reliability; Ultrasound imaging.