Physical Therapist Inter-Rater Reliability in Neuro-Muscle Ultrasound in Critically Ill ICU Patients

Launched by UNIVERSITY OF CHILE · Jun 18, 2025

Keywords

ClinConnect Summary

This clinical trial is studying how well physical therapists can use ultrasound to measure muscles and nerves in patients who are very sick and in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU). The goal is to see if different therapists get similar results when looking at muscle size and quality, which can help detect weakness that develops during a critical illness. The study also checks if common physical tests used in the ICU match up with what the ultrasound shows. This could help doctors and therapists better understand and track muscle problems early on in very sick patients.

Adults who are awake and stable enough to participate in the ICU at Clínica INDISA may be eligible. To join, patients must be 18 or older and able to give consent. Some people, like those with certain medical conditions (such as severe blood problems, muscle diseases, or recent fractures), or those undergoing specific treatments (like chemotherapy), won’t be able to take part. Participants will have their muscles and nerves examined by ultrasound by three different therapists, along with routine strength and function tests. This process is non-invasive and helps researchers see how reliable these muscle measurements are when done by different professionals.

Gender

ALL

Eligibility criteria

• Inclusion Criteria:
• • Adult patients (≥18 years old) admitted to the Adult Intensive Care Unit (ICU) of Clínica INDISA.
• • Conscious and clinically stable at the time of assessment.
• • Able to provide written informed consent.
• Exclusion Criteria:
• • Known allergy to ultrasound gel.
• • Body mass index (BMI) ≥ 30 kg/m².
• • Pre-existing neuromuscular disease.
• • Continuous renal replacement therapy or severe hepatic coagulopathy.
• • Platelet count \< 20,000/µL.
• • Lower limb amputation or recent fractures.
• • Ongoing chemotherapy or immunosuppressive treatment with corticosteroids.
• • Epileptic status or pregnancy.