Reliability of muscle thickness and muscle echo intensity evaluation of the posterior medial tibia in long-distance athletes using an ultrasound imaging device

Abstract

ObjectiveWe aimed to verify the reliability of muscle thickness and luminance evaluation of the deep leg muscles using an ultrasound device. DesignCohort study. SettingTrack and field, Participants: high school track and field long distance athletes (N = 10, female: 50.0%, age = 16.0 ± 2.8 years, BMI = 18.2 ± 2.3 kg/m2) ParticipantsThis study included Japanese high school track and long-distance field athletes. Main outcome measuresThe thickness and echo intensity of tibialis posterior, flexor digitorum longus, and soleus muscles in the posterior medial tibia were clarified. ResultsThe echo intensity evaluation of the tibialis posterior muscle showed an additive error. ConclusionThe study suggested that the results could be clinically applied clinically, except for the evaluation of echo intensity of the posterior tibialis muscle.