Karen M McCreesh1, Shakeel Anjum2, James M Crotty3, Jeremy S Lewis1,4,5. 1. Department of Clinical Therapies, University of Limerick, Limerick, Ireland. 2. Department of Rheumatology, University Hospital Limerick, Limerick, Ireland. 3. Department of Radiology, University Hospital Limerick, Limerick, Ireland. 4. Central London Community Healthcare NHS Trust, London, UK. 5. University of Hertfordshire, Hatfield, Hertfordshire, UK.
Abstract
PURPOSE: Rotator cuff (RC) tendinopathy has been widely ascribed to impingement of the supraspinatus tendon (SsT) in the subacromial space, measured as the acromiohumeral distance (AHD). Ultrasound (US) is suitable for measuring AHD and SsT thickness, but few reliability studies have been carried out in symptomatic populations, and interrater reliability is unconfirmed. This study aimed to examine the intrarater and interrater reliability of US measurements of AHD and SsT thickness in asymptomatic control subjects and patients with RC tendinopathy. METHODS: Seventy participants were recruited and grouped as healthy controls (n = 25) and RC tendinopathy (n = 45). Repeated US measurements of AHD and SsT thickness were obtained by one rater in both groups and by two raters in the RC tendinopathy group. RESULTS: Intrarater and interrater reliability coefficients were excellent for both measurements (intraclass correlation > 0.92), but the intrarater reliability was superior. The minimal detectable change values in the symptomatic group were 0.7 mm for AHD and 0.6 mm for SsT thickness for a single experienced examiner; the values rose to 1.2 mm and 1.3 mm, respectively, for the pair of examiners. CONCLUSIONS: The results support the reliability of US for the measurement of AHD and SsT thickness in patients with symptomatic RC tendinopathy and provide minimal detectable change values for use in future research studies.
PURPOSE: Rotator cuff (RC) tendinopathy has been widely ascribed to impingement of the supraspinatus tendon (SsT) in the subacromial space, measured as the acromiohumeral distance (AHD). Ultrasound (US) is suitable for measuring AHD and SsT thickness, but few reliability studies have been carried out in symptomatic populations, and interrater reliability is unconfirmed. This study aimed to examine the intrarater and interrater reliability of US measurements of AHD and SsT thickness in asymptomatic control subjects and patients with RC tendinopathy. METHODS: Seventy participants were recruited and grouped as healthy controls (n = 25) and RC tendinopathy (n = 45). Repeated US measurements of AHD and SsT thickness were obtained by one rater in both groups and by two raters in the RC tendinopathy group. RESULTS: Intrarater and interrater reliability coefficients were excellent for both measurements (intraclass correlation > 0.92), but the intrarater reliability was superior. The minimal detectable change values in the symptomatic group were 0.7 mm for AHD and 0.6 mm for SsT thickness for a single experienced examiner; the values rose to 1.2 mm and 1.3 mm, respectively, for the pair of examiners. CONCLUSIONS: The results support the reliability of US for the measurement of AHD and SsT thickness in patients with symptomatic RC tendinopathy and provide minimal detectable change values for use in future research studies.
Authors: S Navarro-Ledesma; F Struyf; M T Labajos-Manzanares; M Fernandez-Sanchez; A Luque-Suarez Journal: BMC Musculoskelet Disord Date: 2017-04-04 Impact factor: 2.362
Authors: Frédérique Dupuis; Eva Barrett; Marc-Olivier Dubé; Karen M McCreesh; Jeremy S Lewis; Jean-Sébastien Roy Journal: BMJ Open Sport Exerc Med Date: 2018-12-26
Authors: Fábio Carlos Lucas de Oliveira; Benoit Pairot de Fontenay; Laurent Julien Bouyer; François Desmeules; Jean-Sébastien Roy Journal: Sports Health Date: 2020-09-28 Impact factor: 3.843