Validity of a portable computer‐based ultrasound system for estimating adipose tissue in female gymnasts

Summary The aim of this investigation was to determine the validity of a portable ultrasound instrument for estimating adipose tissue ( AT %) compared to dual‐energy X ‐ray absorptiometry ( DXA ) in female collegiate gymnasts. Participants had their measurements taken in the following order: urine‐specific gravity, body mass, height, ultrasound determined AT % (1‐site and 3‐site) and DXA determined AT %. The current pilot study found significant differences between estimates of AT % ( P  < 0·001). Pearson's correlations between DXA and 1‐site and 3‐site estimates were r  = 0·786 and r  = 0·753, respectively. The standard error of the estimate between DXA and 1‐site and 3‐site estimates was 3·6% and 3·9%, respectively. However, the average deviation of individual scores from the line of identity was 6·7% for the 1‐site and 4·9% for the 3‐site, when compared with the DXA estimate. The results of this preliminary study found that the portable ultrasound was not a valid estimate of AT % when compared with the DXA estimate in female collegiate gymnasts.