This is an early access version, the complete PDF, HTML, and XML versions will be available soon.
Open AccessArticle
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
by
Carlante Emerson
Carlante Emerson ,
Hyun K. Kim
Hyun K. Kim
,
Brian A. Irving
Brian A. Irving
and
Efthymios Papadopoulos
Efthymios Papadopoulos *
School of Kinesiology, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, LA 70803, USA
*
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
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.
Share and Cite
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
Article Metrics
Article Access Statistics
For more information on the journal statistics, click
here.
Multiple requests from the same IP address are counted as one view.