Abstract：
Advancement in ultrasound imaging technology has led to the development of handheld devices that are more accessible to physical therapists due to decreased cost, reduced size, and improved ease of use relative to current established units. Physical therapists use ultrasound imaging of the lumbar multifidus muscle (LMM) to assist in rehabilitation of patients with lumbar pathology.
To identify the inter-device reliability of measuring the LMM thickness during a sustained contraction when comparing handheld (Butterfly iQ+) and established (SonoSite M-Turbo) ultrasound units. A secondary purpose was to determine the reliability of a student physical therapist using both devices.
A reliability measurement study METHOD: A blinded examiner identified the LMM at the L4 vertebral level and measured the thickness of the contracted muscle utilizing both the handheld and established ultrasound devices. ICC values were calculated to determine the inter-device and intra-rater reliability.
The study included 42 healthy participants, 30 females and 12 males, with a mean age of 38.5 years. The inter-device reliability during a sustained LMM contraction was excellent (ICC = 0.92, 95% CI: 0.87-0.94) and the intra-rater reliability was good for both the handheld (ICC = 0.85, 95% CI: 0.73-0.92) and established (ICC = 0.89, 95% CI: 0.82-0.93) ultrasound units.
Results support the use of handheld ultrasound by physical therapists and students to measure the LMM thickness. Future studies could investigate the reliability of handheld ultrasound in a variety of musculoskeletal and pathological structures important to PT practice.
To identify the inter-device reliability of measuring the LMM thickness during a sustained contraction when comparing handheld (Butterfly iQ+) and established (SonoSite M-Turbo) ultrasound units. A secondary purpose was to determine the reliability of a student physical therapist using both devices.
A reliability measurement study METHOD: A blinded examiner identified the LMM at the L4 vertebral level and measured the thickness of the contracted muscle utilizing both the handheld and established ultrasound devices. ICC values were calculated to determine the inter-device and intra-rater reliability.
The study included 42 healthy participants, 30 females and 12 males, with a mean age of 38.5 years. The inter-device reliability during a sustained LMM contraction was excellent (ICC = 0.92, 95% CI: 0.87-0.94) and the intra-rater reliability was good for both the handheld (ICC = 0.85, 95% CI: 0.73-0.92) and established (ICC = 0.89, 95% CI: 0.82-0.93) ultrasound units.
Results support the use of handheld ultrasound by physical therapists and students to measure the LMM thickness. Future studies could investigate the reliability of handheld ultrasound in a variety of musculoskeletal and pathological structures important to PT practice.
摘要：
背景：超声成像技术的进步导致了手持设备的发展，由于成本的降低，理疗师更容易使用这些设备，缩小尺寸,和改进的易用性相对于当前已建立的单位。物理治疗师使用腰椎多裂肌（LMM）的超声成像来协助腰椎病理患者的康复。
目的：在比较手持式（ButterflyiQ+）和已建立的（SonoSiteM-Turbo）超声单元时，确定在持续收缩期间测量LMM厚度的设备间可靠性。第二个目的是确定使用两种设备的学生物理治疗师的可靠性。
方法：可靠性测量研究方法：盲检查者在L4椎体水平确定了LMM，并利用手持式和已建立的超声设备测量了收缩肌肉的厚度。计算ICC值以确定设备间和评分者内的可靠性。
结果：该研究包括42名健康参与者，30名女性和12名男性，平均年龄38.5岁.持续LMM收缩期间的设备间可靠性非常好（ICC=0.92，95％CI：0.87-0.94），而手持式（ICC=0.85，95％CI：0.73-0.92）和已建立（ICC=0.89，95％CI：0.82-0.93）超声单元的评估者内部可靠性都很好。
结论：结果支持物理治疗师和学生使用手持超声测量LMM厚度。未来的研究可以研究手持式超声在对PT实践重要的各种肌肉骨骼和病理结构中的可靠性。
目的：在比较手持式（ButterflyiQ+）和已建立的（SonoSiteM-Turbo）超声单元时，确定在持续收缩期间测量LMM厚度的设备间可靠性。第二个目的是确定使用两种设备的学生物理治疗师的可靠性。
方法：可靠性测量研究方法：盲检查者在L4椎体水平确定了LMM，并利用手持式和已建立的超声设备测量了收缩肌肉的厚度。计算ICC值以确定设备间和评分者内的可靠性。
结果：该研究包括42名健康参与者，30名女性和12名男性，平均年龄38.5岁.持续LMM收缩期间的设备间可靠性非常好（ICC=0.92，95％CI：0.87-0.94），而手持式（ICC=0.85，95％CI：0.73-0.92）和已建立（ICC=0.89，95％CI：0.82-0.93）超声单元的评估者内部可靠性都很好。
结论：结果支持物理治疗师和学生使用手持超声测量LMM厚度。未来的研究可以研究手持式超声在对PT实践重要的各种肌肉骨骼和病理结构中的可靠性。
