Reliability and Inter-Device Agreement Between a Portable Handheld Ultrasound Scanner and a Conventional Ultrasound System for Assessing the Thickness of the Rectus Femoris and Vastus Intermedius

Authors

• Carlante Emerson, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, LA
• Hyun K. Kim, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, LA
• Brian A. Irving, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, LA
• Efthymios Papadopoulos, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, LA

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

8-1-2025

Publication Title

Journal of Functional Morphology and Kinesiology

Abstract

Background: Ultrasound (U/S) can be used to evaluate skeletal muscle characteristics in clinical and sports settings. Handheld U/S devices have recently emerged as a cheaper and portable alternative to conventional U/S systems. However, further research is warranted on their reliability. We assessed the reliability and inter-device agreement between a handheld U/S device (Clarius L15 HD3) and a more conventional U/S system (GE LOGIQ e) for measuring the thickness of the rectus femoris (RF) and vastus intermedius (VI). Methods: Cross-sectional images of the RF and VI muscles were obtained in 20 participants by two assessors, and on two separate occasions by one of those assessors, using the Clarius L15 HD3 and GE LOGIQ e devices. RF and VI thickness measurements were obtained to determine the intra-rater reliability, inter-rater reliability, and inter-device agreement. Results: All intraclass correlation coefficients (ICCs) were above 0.9 for intra-rater reliability (range: 0.94 to 0.97), inter-rater reliability (ICC: 0.97), and inter-device agreement (ICC: 0.98) when comparing the two devices in assessing RF and VI thickness. For the RF, the Bland-Altman plot revealed a mean difference of 0.06 ± 0.07 cm, with limits of agreement ranging from 0.21 to -0.09, whereas for the VI, the Bland-Altman plot showed a mean difference of 0.07 ± 0.10 cm, with limits of agreement ranging from 0.27 to -0.13. Conclusions: The handheld Clarius L15 HD3 was reliable and demonstrated high agreement with the more conventional GE LOGIQ e for assessing the thickness of the RF and VI in young, healthy adults.

First Page

1

Last Page

14

DOI

10.3390/jfmk10030299

Creative Commons License

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.

Recommended Citation

Emerson, Carlante; Kim, Hyun K.; Irving, Brian A.; and Papadopoulos, Efthymios, "Reliability and Inter-Device Agreement Between a Portable Handheld Ultrasound Scanner and a Conventional Ultrasound System for Assessing the Thickness of the Rectus Femoris and Vastus Intermedius" (2025). LSU-LCMC Cancer Center Faculty Publications. 185.
https://digitalscholar.lsuhsc.edu/llcc_facpubs/185
10.3390/jfmk10030299