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Validity and reliability of an ultrasound system for estimating adipose tissue
Author(s) -
Loenneke Jeremy P.,
Barnes Jeremy T.,
Wagganer Jason D.,
Wilson Jacob M.,
Lowery Ryan P.,
Green Cody E.,
Pujol Thomas J.
Publication year - 2014
Publication title -
clinical physiology and functional imaging
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.608
H-Index - 67
eISSN - 1475-097X
pISSN - 1475-0961
DOI - 10.1111/cpf.12077
Subject(s) - bioelectrical impedance analysis , ultrasound , medicine , urine specific gravity , adipose tissue , fat mass , anthropometry , reliability (semiconductor) , skinfold thickness , subcutaneous adipose tissue , physical therapy , nuclear medicine , body mass index , urine , radiology , power (physics) , physics , quantum mechanics
Summary When health professionals measure the fitness levels of clients, body composition is usually estimated. In field settings, body composition is commonly estimated with skinfolds or bioelectrical impedance analysis. Recently, a portable ultrasound device has been manufactured to estimate what percentage of body mass is composed of adipose tissue ( AT %). A reported advantage of using ultrasound is that inter‐ and intrarater variations may be minimized when compared with the skinfold technique. Therefore, the purpose of this pilot study was twofold; 1) to determine the validity of a portable ultrasound device compared with skinfolds and 2) determine the reliability of the portable ultrasound device. Participants had their measurements taken in the following order: urine specific gravity, body mass, height, skinfolds and ultrasound determined. Participants had their urine specific gravity and ultrasound determined AT % estimates measured again 48 h later. The current pilot study found that the ultrasound was not a valid estimate of AT % when compared with the skinfold estimate ( TE > 4%). In addition, the 1‐site estimate from the ultrasound was more reliable than the 3‐site estimate of AT %. These data are of importance to practitioners because it demonstrates that while the ultrasound is not a valid estimate compared with skinfolds, the 1‐site estimate may be able to track changes in AT % over time, making the ultrasound an option for assessing changes in body composition.