The reliability and effectiveness of shoulder joint evaluation by ultrasonography in stroke patients: deltoid muscle thickness, acromion-humeral distance, acromion-lesser tuberosity distance

[Purpose] This study aimed to evaluate the reliability of the intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) in measuring deltoid muscle thickness (DMT) at different angles, acromion-humeral distance (AHD), and acromion nodule tuberosity (ALT) distance in a resting position in stroke patients using ultrasonography. [Participants and Methods] We included 40 stroke patients. During the measurement of parameters by ultrasonography, we measured the deltoid muscle thickness on both sides at three test angles (0°, 30°, and 60° abduction) and AHD and ALT on both sides at 0° angle. The ICC was used to assess intra- and interrater reliability. The relationship between the hemiplegic and non-hemiplegic sides and each angle were analyzed using a two-way repeated-measure analysis of variance (ANOVA). [Results] When the shoulders were at three testing angles (0°, 30°, and 60° abduction), the deltoid muscle thickness of the hemiplegic and non-hemiplegic sides showed good reliability; the AHD and ALT of the shoulder joint at 0° angle equally showed good reliability. There was a significant difference in each abduction angle of the shoulder joint between the thickness of the hemiplegic and non-hemiplegic deltoid. [Conclusion] Measuring deltoid muscle thickness by ultrasonography showed excellent reliability and can be used in stroke patients.