An adequate level of reliability, how consistent a method is over multiple measures, is necessary to be able to use this method in clinic and diagnose or treat a medical condition. It is thus important to determine if the rater’s experience will noticeably influence the precision and the reliability of the technique.
goal
Echo intensity is a novel ultrasound imaging measure that can be used as an indicator of muscle quality (e.g. intramuscular fat). This study investigated the reliability of this measure to assess the quality of the lumbar multifidus muscle, which supports a part of the lower spine, in participants with a history of low back pain.
methodology
Twenty athletes (10 females, 10 males) with a history of low back pain were included. Lumbar multifidus muscle measurements were obtained twice on both sides of the spine at the L5 spinal level (one of the lowest lumbar level), by two novice raters and an experienced researcher.
Main findings
The reliability of the experienced rater was excellent. The reliability and agreement of between the experienced and novice raters was moderate to excellent, and was not affected by muscle side or sex.
take home message
These findings from Maryse Fortin support the clinical use of ultrasound imaging for the assessment of lumbar multifidus echointensity in individuals with low back pain. The measure can offer valuable insights regarding the functional quality of this muscle, which plays a key role in spinal stability and lumbopelvic control.
