Reliability and criterion validity of abductor hallucis muscle volume measurements using ultrasound and MRI by assessors with limited image analysis experience

Purpose

The abductor hallucis (ABDH) contributes to foot function and mobility, which can influence quality of life, making accurate assessment of muscle volume important. While magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is often considered to be the reference standard of medical imaging, ultrasound (US) provides a cost-effective, rapid and dynamic way of assessing muscle size and function. This study aimed to evaluate the criterion validity and intrarater reliability of US-derived ABDH muscle volume measurements compared with MRI when image analysis was performed by assessors with limited experience.