Pætur M Holm1, Søren T Skou2, Jens L Olesen3, Sissel Mølbak4, Heidi Jørgensen4, Morten Skjoldager5, Steffan W Christensen6. 1. Department of Physiotherapy and Occupational Therapy, Næstved-Slagelse-Ringsted Hospitals, Denmark; Research Unit for Musculoskeletal Function and Physiotherapy, Department of Sports Science and Clinical Biomechanics, University of Southern, Denmark. Electronic address: pamh@regionsjaelland.dk. 2. Department of Physiotherapy and Occupational Therapy, Næstved-Slagelse-Ringsted Hospitals, Denmark; Research Unit for Musculoskeletal Function and Physiotherapy, Department of Sports Science and Clinical Biomechanics, University of Southern, Denmark. 3. Research Unit for General Practice in Aalborg, Department of Clinical Medicine, Aalborg University, Denmark. 4. Department of Physiotherapy, University College of Northern Denmark, Aalborg, Denmark. 5. Arkadens Fysioterapi, Aalborg, Denmark. 6. Department of Physiotherapy, University College of Northern Denmark, Aalborg, Denmark; SMI, Department of Health Science and Technology, Aalborg University, Denmark.
Abstract
OBJECTIVES: To determine intra- and interrater reliability of ultrasonographic imaging (USI) measurements of patellar tendon (PT) thickness using 16 measurement sites covering the entire tendon. DESIGN: Reliability study. SETTING: Physiotherapy outpatient clinic. PARTICIPANTS: Twenty healthy and physically active volunteers (9 women). Mean age: 24 years (SD ± 2.73). Mean body mass: 75.8 kg (SD ± 11.8). MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) and 95% limits of agreement (LOA) in cm and in percentage relative to the mean PT thickness. RESULTS: Intrarater reliability ranged from 0.59 to 0.87 and 0.59 to 0.93 for examiners I and II, respectively. Interrater reliability ranged from 0.37 to 0.89. Measurement precision for examiner I ranged from 0.05 to 0.09 cm (17.5%-26.7%) while ranging from 0.04 to 0.13 cm (13.3%-38.7%) for examiner II. Interrater measurement precision ranged from 0.07 to 0.15 cm (19.1%-42.5%). CONCLUSION: In an attempt to replicate daily clinical USI practice, this was the first study extensively assessing reliability throughout the full range of the patellar tendon - revealing a considerable variation in intra- and interrater reliability as well as measurement precision throughout the 16 individual PT sites. In a clinical context, the low interrater reliability and precision found at the proximal tendon insertion site may have implications for USI of the symptomatic PT, as this is the site mainly associated with underlying pathologic changes. Further reliability studies are needed to clarify the region-specific reliability of the full length PT.
OBJECTIVES: To determine intra- and interrater reliability of ultrasonographic imaging (USI) measurements of patellar tendon (PT) thickness using 16 measurement sites covering the entire tendon. DESIGN: Reliability study. SETTING: Physiotherapy outpatient clinic. PARTICIPANTS: Twenty healthy and physically active volunteers (9 women). Mean age: 24 years (SD ± 2.73). Mean body mass: 75.8 kg (SD ± 11.8). MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) and 95% limits of agreement (LOA) in cm and in percentage relative to the mean PT thickness. RESULTS: Intrarater reliability ranged from 0.59 to 0.87 and 0.59 to 0.93 for examiners I and II, respectively. Interrater reliability ranged from 0.37 to 0.89. Measurement precision for examiner I ranged from 0.05 to 0.09 cm (17.5%-26.7%) while ranging from 0.04 to 0.13 cm (13.3%-38.7%) for examiner II. Interrater measurement precision ranged from 0.07 to 0.15 cm (19.1%-42.5%). CONCLUSION: In an attempt to replicate daily clinical USI practice, this was the first study extensively assessing reliability throughout the full range of the patellar tendon - revealing a considerable variation in intra- and interrater reliability as well as measurement precision throughout the 16 individual PT sites. In a clinical context, the low interrater reliability and precision found at the proximal tendon insertion site may have implications for USI of the symptomatic PT, as this is the site mainly associated with underlying pathologic changes. Further reliability studies are needed to clarify the region-specific reliability of the full length PT.
Authors: Sebastian Klich; Aureliusz Kosendiak; Igor Krymski; Adam Kawczyński; Pascal Madeleine; Cesar Fernández-de-Las-Peñas Journal: PLoS One Date: 2022-07-05 Impact factor: 3.752