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. 2018 Nov 29;13(11):e0207847. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0207847

Table 2. Evidence of validity and reliability by technique and by muscle.

    slice-by-slice CSA segmentation CSA segmentation on a reduced number of slices CSA segmentation/ muscle thickness using a single slice and muscle length CSA segmentation on a single slice deformation of a parametric specific object (DPSO) deformation of a parametric specific object (DPSO), reduced MRI set method other automatic methods
supraspinatus validity ++ [25] + (2 MSS) [56] + [56]     ++++ [29]
  intraR +++ [25] +++ (2 MSS) [56]   +++ [56]      
  interR +++ [25] +++ (2 MSS) [56]   +++ [56]      
subscapularis validity ++ [25] ++ (2 MSS) [56]   + [56]      
intraR +++ [25] +++ (2 MSS) [56]   +++ [56]      
interR +++ [25] +++ (2 MSS) [56]   +++ [56]      
infraspinatus + teres minor validity ++ [25] ++ (2 MSS) [56]   ++ [56]      
intraR +++ [25] +++ (2 MSS) [56]   +++ [56]      
  interR +++ [25] ++ (2 MSS) [56]   +++ [56]      
triceps brachii validity     ++ [50]        
flexor carpi ulnaris intraR ++++ [62]            
interR +++ [62]            
extensor carpi ulnaris intraR +++ [62]            
interR ++ [62]            
quadratus lumborum validity     + [53]   ++ (Dixon)/ +++ (T1) (18%MSS) [59]   +++ [67]
intraR         +++ (18%MSS) [59]    
interR         +++ (18%MSS) [59]    
erector spinae validity     ++ [53]   ++ (Dixon)/ +++ (T1) (15% MSS) [59]    
intraR         +++ (15% MSS) [59]    
interR +++ [45]       +++ (15% MSS) [59]    
multifidus interR ++ [45]            
rectus abdominis validity         ++ (Dixon)/ +++ (12% MSS) (T1) [59]    
intraR         +++ (12% MSS) [59]    
interR + [45]       ++ (12% MSS) [59]    
psoas validity         ++ (Dixon)/ +++ (T1) (10% MSS) [59]   +++ [67]
intraR         +++ (10% MSS) [59]    
interR +++ [45]       +++ (10% MSS) [59]    
erector spinae and multifidus validity             +++ [67]
interR +++ [45]            
gluteus medius validity   ++ [53]   ++ (Dixon)/ +++ (T1) (25% MSS) [59]    
intraR +++ [63]       +++ (25% MSS) [59]    
interR +++ [61] + [63]       ++ (25% MSS) [59]    
gluteus minimus validity     + [53]   ++ (Dixon)/ +++ (T1) (30% MSS) [59]    
intraR + (P) / ++ (H) [63]       ++ (30% MSS) [59]    
interR +++ [61] + [63]       ++ (30% MSS) [59]    
external obturator intraR ++ [63]            
interR + [63]            
gluteus maximus validity     ++ [53]   ++ (Dixon)/ +++ (T1) (18% MSS) [59]    
intraR         +++ (18% MSS) [59]    
interR +++ [61]       +++ (18% MSS) [59]    
piriformis interR +++ [61]            
iliacus validity         ++ (Dixon)/ +++ (T1) (25% MSS) [59]    
intra reliab         +++ (25% MSS) [59]    
inter reliab         +++ (25% MSS) [59]    
obliquus validity         ++ (Dixon)/ +++ (T1) (20% MSS) [59]    
intraR         +++ (20% MSS) [59]    
interR         +++ (20% MSS) [59]    
spine flexors validity           ++ [53]  
spine extensors validity           + [53]  
hip flexors validity           ++ [53]  
hip extensors validity           ++ [53]  
rectus femoris validity   ++++ (alg 2, 9 MSS) [55] + to +++ (depending of nr of MSS) [47] +++ [51] ++ [60] + (CSA/thickness) [28] +++ [53]   ++ (Dixon)/ +++ (T1) (13% MSS) [59] ++ (6 MSS) [64] ++ (improved DPSO, 5 MSS) [68]   + (fully)/ +++ (semi) [48] +++ [65]
intraR         +++ (13% MSS) [59] ++ 6 MSS)[64]    
interR ++ (1 subject) [64] ++ [46] +++ [48]       +++ (13% MSS) [59]    
vastus lateralis validity   + to +++ (depending of nr of MSS) [47] +++ (58) +++ [60] + (thickness)/ ++ (CSA) [60]       + (fully)/ +++ (semi) [48] +++ [65]
interR ++ [48] ++ [46]            
vastus medialis validity   + to +++ (depending of nr of MSS) [47] ++ [53] +++ [60] ++ (58) + (thickness)/ ++ (CSA) [60]   ++ (Dixon)/ +++ (T1) (15% MSS) [59] ++ (7 MSS) [64]   +++ (fully and semi) [48] +++ [65]
intraR         +++ (15% MSS) [59] ++ (7 MSS) [64]    
interR ++ [46] ++ (1 subject) [64] +++ [48]       +++ (15% MSS) [59]    
vastus intermedius validity ++++ Barnouin 2015 + to +++ (depending of nr of MSS) [47] ++ (58) ++ [60] + (thickness)/ ++ (CSA) [60]       + (fully)/ +++ (semi) [48] +++ [65]
interR +++ [46] +++ [48]            
vastus lateralis and intermedius validity     +++ [53]   ++ (Dixon)/ +++ (T1) (15% MSS) [59] ++ (7 MSS) [63]    
intraR         +++ (15% MSS) [59] +++ (7 MSS) [63]    
interR ++ (1 subject) [64]       +++ (15% MSS) [59]    
vastus lateralis and medialis and intermedius validity   ++++ (alg 3, 3 MSS) [55]     ++ (improved DPSO, 5 MSS) [68]    
quadriceps validity   ++ to ++++ depending of nt of MSS) [26] + to +++ (depending of nt of MSS) [47] +++ to ++++ (depending of volume calculation method, 5 to 12 MSS) [27] + to ++ (CSA at different levels) [60] ++ [26] ++ (9) ++++ [27]  ++
[53]		  
intraR ++++ [27]            
interR +++ [48] ++ [46] ++++ [27] +++ (9)          
sartorius validity   ++++ (alg 3, 7 MSS) [55] +++ [53]   ++ (Dixon)/ +++ (T1) (10% MSS) [59] ++ (7 MSS) [64] ++ (improved DPSO, 5 MSS) [68]   +++ [65]
intraR         +++ (10% MSS) [59] + (7 MSS) [64]  
interR + (1 subject) [64]       +++ (10% MSS) [59]    
tensor fascia lata validity     ++ [53]   ++ (Dixon)/ +++ (T1) (15%MSS) [59] ++ (6 MSS) [64] ++ (improved DPSO, 4 MSS) [68]    
intraR         +++ (15%MSS) [59] ++ (6 MSS) [64]    
interR ++ (1 subject) [64]       +++ (15%MSS) [59]    
biceps femoris short head validity   ++++ (all) [55] ++ [53] + [60]   ++ (8 MSS) [64] ++ (improved DPSO, 5 MSS) [68]   +++ [65]
intraR         + (8 MSS) [63]    
interR + (1 subject) [64]            
biceps femoris long head validity   ++++ (all) [55] ++ [53] + [60]   +++ (6 MSS) [64] ++ (improved DPSO, 4 MSS) [68]   +++ [65]
intraR         + (6 MSS) [64]    
interR ++ (1 subject) [64]            
biceps femoris validity         ++ (Dixon)/ +++ (T1) (12% MSS) [59]    
intraR         +++ (12% MSS) [59]    
interR         +++ (12% MSS) [59]    
semi tendinonsis validity   ++++ (alg 2, 11 MSS) [55] ++ [53] + [60] ++ [51]   ++ (6 MSS) [64] ++ (improved DPSO, 6 MSS) [68]   +++ [65]
intraR         + (6 MSS) [64]    
interR ++ (1 subject) [64]            
semi membranosus validity   ++++ (all) [55] ++ [53] + [60] ++ [51]   ++ (6 MSS) [64] ++ (improved DPSO, 5 MSS) [68]   +++ [65]
intraR         + (6 MSS) [64]    
interR ++ (1 subject) [64]            
gracilis validity   ++++ (all) [55] ++ [53]   ++ (Dixon)/ +++ (T1) (10% MSS) [59] ++ (7 MSS) [64] ++ (improved DPSO, 4 MSS) [68]   +++ [65]
intraR         +++(10% MSS) [59] + (7 MSS) [64]    
interR + (1 subject) [64]       +++ (10% MSS) [59]    
AddOP validity     ++ [53]        
add longus validity   ++++ (alg 2, 3 MSS) [55]          
add magnus validity   ++++ (alg 2, 1 MSS) [55]          
semi membranosus and tendinosis validity         ++ (Dixon)/ +++ (T1) (11%MSS) [59]    
intraR         +++ (11%MSS) [59]    
interR         +++ (11%MSS) [59]    
adductor (brevis, longus, magnuas) validity         ++ (Dixon)/ +++ (T1) (20%MSS) [59]    
intraR         +++ (20%MSS) [59]    
interR         +++ (20%MSS) [59]    
adductor validity             +++ [65]
knee flexors validity           ++ [53]  
knee extensors validity           ++ [53]  
gastrocnemius medialis validity   ++++ (alg 2, 2 MSS) [55] ++ [52] ++ [51] +++ [57]   ++ (8 MSS) [64]    
interR ++ (1 subject) [64]            
gastrocnemius lateralis validity   ++++ (alg 2, 7 MSS) [55] + [52]   ++ (6 MSS) [64]    
intraR         + (6 MSS) [64]    
interR ++ (1 subject) [64]            
soleus validity   ++++ (alg 2, 4 MSS) [55] ++ [52] ++ [51] ++ [57]        
tibialis posterior validity   ++++ (alg 2, 12 MSS) [55]          
peroneus (Longus, Brevis, Tertius) validity   ++++ (alg 3, 7 MSS) [55]          
tibialis anterior + extensor digitorum longus + extensor hallucis longus validity   ++++ (alg 3, 10 MSS) [55] ++++ (8 MSS) [49]          
intraR   +++ 13 slices [49]          
interR   ++ 13 slices [49]          
flexor digitorum longus validity   ++++ (alg 2, 7 MSS) [55]          
tibialis anterior validity     ++ [51]        

IntraR: intra rater reliability, interR: inter rater reliability

Excellent, good, moderate and poor metrological qualities are represented by ++++, +++, ++ and + signs respectively