Intra- and inter-rater reliabilities of skin mechanical properties measured in healthy individuals using skin elasticity meter

Abstract

Purpose

The aim of this study is to establish a standardized measurement method and to examine the intra- and inter-reliabilities and absolute reliability of measuring skin mechanical properties using a skin elasticity meter (Cutometer®).

Methods

Ten healthy participated in the study. Skin mechanical properties were measured at four sites: upper arm, lower arm, upper leg and lower leg on both sides in supine position using a non-invasive skin elasticity meter by two trained different raters. The measurements include quantitative indices of the maximal distensibility (R0), elasticity (R2, R5, R7), and viscoelasticity (R6). Intra- and inter- relative reliabilities were determined using the intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) (1,1) and ICC (2,1) methods, respectively. The absolute reliability was assessed via the Bland-Altman analysis. Moreover, we evaluated the minimal detectable change at a 95% confidence level (MDC95).

Results

At each site, the ICC (1,1) values were >0.90, and the ICC (2,1) values were >0.50. The Bland–Altman analysis did not reveal any fixed errors, and several sites and parameters have proportional errors.

Conclusions

In this study, intra- and inter-reliabilities were measured at “excellent” and more than “moderate” levels, respectively. However, because some proportional errors were observed, the limits of reliability agreement should be considered when using the proposed methods. We believe that the results of this study can be applied to clinical research in field of rehabilitation treatment.

Keywords:

• Skin elasticity meter
• skin mechanical properties
• reliability
• Bland–Altman analysis
• measurement
• outcomes

Acknowledgments

The authors thank all participants.

Author contributions

All authors involved in the conception and design. Yudai Fujimoto, Yuji Kato, Shota Kinoshita analyzed and interpreted of the data. Yudai Fujimoto drafted of the article, revised the final approval of the version to be published. All authors agree to be accountable for all aspects of the work.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Data availability statement

Data are available upon reasonable request from corresponding author.

Additional information

Funding

This study was supported in part by the Osaka International Cancer Institute Grant [Grant Number 783].