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Article

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

School of Kinesiology, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, LA 70803, USA
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Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
J. Funct. Morphol. Kinesiol. 2025, 10(3), 299; https://doi.org/10.3390/jfmk10030299 (registering DOI)
Submission received: 21 May 2025 / Revised: 12 July 2025 / Accepted: 31 July 2025 / Published: 1 August 2025
(This article belongs to the Section Kinesiology and Biomechanics)

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.
Keywords: ultrasound; skeletal muscle; muscle hypertrophy; sarcopenia ultrasound; skeletal muscle; muscle hypertrophy; sarcopenia

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MDPI and ACS Style

Emerson, C.; Kim, H.K.; Irving, B.A.; Papadopoulos, E. 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. J. Funct. Morphol. Kinesiol. 2025, 10, 299. https://doi.org/10.3390/jfmk10030299

AMA Style

Emerson C, Kim HK, Irving BA, Papadopoulos E. 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. Journal of Functional Morphology and Kinesiology. 2025; 10(3):299. https://doi.org/10.3390/jfmk10030299

Chicago/Turabian Style

Emerson, Carlante, Hyun K. Kim, Brian A. Irving, and Efthymios Papadopoulos. 2025. "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" Journal of Functional Morphology and Kinesiology 10, no. 3: 299. https://doi.org/10.3390/jfmk10030299

APA Style

Emerson, C., Kim, H. K., Irving, B. A., & Papadopoulos, E. (2025). 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. Journal of Functional Morphology and Kinesiology, 10(3), 299. https://doi.org/10.3390/jfmk10030299

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