Sayako Shimizu, MD, Kozo Hanayama, MD, PhD, Hiromichi Metani, MD, PhD, Takefumi Sugiyama, MD, Hiromasa Abe, MD, PhD, Sosuke Seki, MD, PhD,
Takashi Hiraoka, MD, PhD, Akio Tsubahara, MD, PhD
Jpn J Compr Rehabil Sci 7: 55-60, 2016
Objective: Ultrasonography can be used to assess
both the morphology and movement of the muscles of
deglutition. This study investigated the intratester,
intertester, and retest reliability of ultrasonic
assessments of the suprahyoid muscle group.
Methods: Three testers performed ultrasonographic
measurements of the length and area of the geniohyoid
muscle in 10 healthy adults, and the contraction ratio
during swallowing. Results were compared using
intraclass correlation coefficients (ICCs) to determine
intratester, retest, and intertester reliabilities.
Results: Intratester and retest reliabilities were very
good, with ICCs >-0.8 for all assessment parameters. In
intertester reliability, ICCs were >-0.8 for geniohyoid
muscle length and area during swallowing and >-0.6
for geniohyoid muscle length at rest and contraction
ratio.
Discussion: These results indicate high reliability of
this assessment method for assessments made by the
same individual, with reliability of the method
remaining high for assessments performed at intervals.
Key words: ultrasonography, geniohyoid muscle, retest reliability, intertester reliability