Inter-rater reliability of ultrasound measurements of acromion–greater tuberosity distance between experienced and novice raters in healthy people

Kumar, Praveen; Attwood, Matthew

Abstract

Acromion-greater tuberosity (AGT) distance is used to assess shoulder pathologies including rotator cuff tears. The aim of this pilot study was, to provide short course of training and assess inter-rater reliability of ultrasonographic measurements of AGT distance between experienced and novice raters (physiotherapy students) in healthy individuals prior to testing on patient populations. Eleven healthy individuals with a mean age 54 years (SD 5) who gave informed written consent were recruited. Three final year physiotherapy students acted as novice raters and an experience rater (physiotherapist) recorded the ultrasound measurements of AGT distance on both shoulders using a standardised protocol. ICC values for inter-rater reliability between experienced rater and novice raters 1, 2 and 3 for the left shoulder were 0.83 (95% CI 0.63-0.94), 0.87 (95% CI 0.73-0.96) and 0.61 (95% CI 0.37-0.85) respectively. Corresponding values for the right shoulder were 0.85 (95% CI 0.70- 0.95), 0.75 (95% CI 0.55-0.91) and 0.62 (95% CI 0.38-0.85). The standard error of measurement (SEM) and minimum detectable change (MDC) were ≤0.2cm and ≤0.3 cm respectively for all the raters. Evidence from this study provides further support for the potential usefulness of ultrasound in both research and clinical practice for the management of shoulder pathologies.

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Acceptance Date: May 8, 2017
• Online Publication Date: Jun 23, 2017
• Publication Date: Mar 1, 2018
• Deposit Date: Jun 16, 2017
• Publicly Available Date: Jun 23, 2018
• Journal: Musculoskeletal Care
• Print ISSN: 1478-2189
• Electronic ISSN: 1557-0681
• Publisher: Wiley
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 16
• Issue: 1
• Pages: 163-166
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1002/msc.1206
• Keywords: acromion-greater tuberosity distance, novice, reliability, rotator cuff tears, ultrasound
• Public URL: https://uwe-repository.worktribe.com/output/874787
• Publisher URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/msc.1206
• Additional Information: Additional Information : This is the peer reviewed version of the following article: Kumar, P. and Attwood, M. (2017) Inter‐rater reliability of ultrasound measurements of acromion–greater tuberosity distance between experienced and novice raters in healthy people. Musculoskeletal Care. pp. 1-4. ISSN 1478-2189 Available from: http://eprints.uwe.ac.uk/32063, which has been published in final form at http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/msc.1206. This article may be used for non-commercial purposes in accordance with Wiley Terms and Conditions for Self-Archiving.
• Contract Date: Jun 16, 2017