The utilization of portable ultrasound technology in medical imaging has experienced significant growth due to its inherent mobility and user-friendly nature. Nevertheless, to enhance trust in this portable equipment, the evidence about its reliability must be acknowledged and disclosed. Assessing the reliability of the Handheld Ultrasound UProbe-L5 and the Hitachi Aloka F37 machine in assessing muscle thickness is a complex task with significant implications for both clinical practice and research. In line with the issue, this study aims to assess the reliability of the portable wireless handheld ultrasound Sonostar Linear Series UProbe-L5 with the Hitachi Aloka F37 ultrasonography machine for muscle thickness measurements. Twenty male university athletes, aged between 19 and 20 years (mean age 19.52 ± 0.29), participated in this study. The reliability of the Handheld Ultrasound UProbe-L5 and Hitachi Aloka F37 scans were evaluated. A test-retest reliability study design was employed to quantify the muscle thickness of the biceps brachii muscle. Three measurements were taken using both devices. The participants were required to refrain from participating in any type of resistance exercise for a period of forty-eight hours before the assessment. The participants are supine, with their arms and legs stretched out and relaxed. The measurement points were positioned at a distance of 60% between the lateral epicondyle of the humerus and the acromial process of the scapula. The muscle thickness was assessed in the short-axis view by measuring the maximum vertical distance between the superficial and deep fascia layers. The data were analyzed using Reliability Analysis to assess the consistency of a measure from these two devices, and the reliability and internal consistency of biceps brachii muscle thickness were analyzed using Cronbach's alpha coefficient. Hence, the results indicate that the scale used to measure muscle thickness has a good level of reliability and internal consistency, as demonstrated by a Cronbach's alpha coefficient of 0.999. The findings suggest no substantial change in the construct being assessed over the two instances in the portable wireless handheld ultrasound devices, specifically the Linear Series UProbe-L5 and Hitachi Aloka F37 ultrasound machines. This study implies that the students, researcher, or medical imaging practitioner can adhere to this study outcome in administrating and utilizing the practical application of the portable or remote ultrasonography assessment. In conclusion, the UProbe-L5 handheld ultrasound apparatus presents a convenient and reliable approach for assessing muscle thickness. Future research is warranted to expand these findings with a larger sample size and ascertain the full scope of the possible application of the Handheld Ultrasound UProbe-L5 instrument in more extensive clinical practice settings.
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Information About the Authors:
Nor Ikhmar Madarsa
norikhmarmadarsa@me.com
http://orcid.org/0000-0002-1983-8001
Coaching Science Department, Faculty Of Sports Science And Coaching, Sultan Idris Education University, 35900 Tanjung Malim, Malaysia
Negeri Sembilan Football Club, 70100 Seremban, Malaysia.
Mohd Hafizuddin Baki
m.hafizuddin@fsskj.upsi.edu.my
http://orcid.org/0000-0003-1974-765X
Coaching Science Department, Faculty Of Sports Science And Coaching, Sultan Idris Education University, 35900 Tanjung Malim, Malaysia
Education Secretariat For Anti-Doping Agency Of Malaysia, 62570 Putrajaya Malaysia.
Ali Md Nadzalan
ali.nadzalan@fsskj.upsi.edu.my
http://orcid.org/0000-0002-0621-2245
Coaching Science Department, Faculty Of Sports Science And Coaching, Sultan Idris Education University, 35900 Tanjung Malim, Malaysia.
Nur Ikhwan Mohamad
nur.ikhwan@fsskj.upsi.edu.my
http://orcid.org/0000-0001-8392-8274
Coaching Science Department, Faculty Of Sports Science And Coaching, Sultan Idris Education University, 35900 Tanjung Malim, Malaysia.
