. 2023 Aug 17;13(10):6656–6667. doi: 10.21037/qims-23-329

Table 3. Intra-session and inter-examiner reliability and repeatability for the RUSI bilateral and simultaneous diaphragm thickness analysis using the designed orthosis during relaxed breathing.

RUSI thickness	RUSI diaphragm thickness (cm), mean ± SD (95% CI)		ICC (95% CI)	SEM	MDC	P value
RUSI thickness	Examiner 1	Examiner 2	ICC (95% CI)	SEM	MDC	P value
Right diaphragm
T^ins	0.172±0.050 (0.157–0.187)	0.195±0.059 (0.177–0.212)	0.676 (0.400–0.823)	0.027	0.075	<0.001*^†
T^exp	0.148±0.045 (0.134–0.161)	0.177±0.061 (0.159–0.195)	0.614 (0.260–0.793)	0.028	0.079	0.001*^#
T^ins − T^exp	0.024±0.035 (0.013–0.034)	0.017±0.034 (0.007–0.028)	0.811 (0.659–0.895)	0.013	0.038	0.117^†
Left diaphragm
T^ins	0.187±0.053 (0.171–0.203)	0.200±0.059 (0.183–0.218)	0.804 (0.644–0.892)	0.023	0.063	0.006*^†
T^exp	0.160±0.042 (0.148–0.173)	0.182±0.057 (0.165–0.199)	0.678 (0.392–0.826)	0.024	0.069	<0.001*^†
T^ins − T^exp	0.026±0.027 (0.018–0.034)	0.018±0.030 (0.009–0.027)	0.800 (0.628–0.891)	0.011	0.032	0.022*^†

*, P<0.05 was considered as statistically significant (95% CI); ^#, Student’s t-test for paired samples was used; ^†, Wilcoxon test for paired sample was used. RUSI, rehabilitative ultrasound imaging; SD, standard deviation; CI, confidence interval; ICC, intraclass correlation coefficient; SEM, standard error of measurement; MDC, minimum detectable change; T^ins, maximum inspiration time; T^exp, maximum expiration time.