For certain injuries, we now offer on-site musculoskeletal diagnostic ultrasound to provide fast, clear imaging. Read on to learn more about musculoskeletal diagnostic ultrasound. and how it can help you today.
What is Musculoskeletal Diagnostic Ultrasound?
Musculoskeletal Diagnostic Ultrasound uses high-frequency sound waves transmitted through a handheld probe to create live images of soft tissues such as muscles, tendons, ligaments, nerves, and joints. A water-based gel helps the probe glide smoothly on your skin. The returning sound waves are processed into detailed, real-time images, allowing dynamic evaluation including movement and stress testing during the scan.
Musculoskeletal Diagnostic Ultrasound is safe, non-invasive and radiation-free, making it ideal for repeated use, quick results and patient-friendly care.
Your assessment will be carried out by a clinician with specialist training in musculoskeletal diagnostic ultrasound, combined with a detailed osteopathic evaluation. This integrated approach provides a clearer picture of your condition and helps achieve a more accurate diagnosis.
Conditions diagnosed by Musculoskeletal Diagnostic Ultrasound
At OsteoBath, we use musculoskeletal diagnostic ultrasound to assess a wide range of musculoskeletal issues, including but not limited to:
Shoulder : Rotator cuff tendinopathy, bursitis, AC joint pathology
Foot & Ankle: Plantar fasciitis, tendon problems, ligament injury
Knee: Patellar or quadriceps tendinopathy, osteoarthritis, bursitis, joint effusion, Baker’s cyst, collateral ligament injury
Elbow: Tennis elbow, golfer’s elbow, biceps tendon injury, bursitis
Hand & Wrist: Tenosynovitis, scapholunate injury, carpal tunnel syndrome
Musculoskeletal diagnostic ultrasound is as accurate as MRI in many soft tissue diagnoses, especially for tendon and ligament injuries. It is also valuable for detecting nerve impingements and tracking how tissues heal over time. Additionally, it supports precision in treatments like dry needling and shockwave therapy.
What Musculoskeletal Diagnostic Ultrasound can’t detect
While highly effective for many conditions, musculoskeletal ultrasound does not provide reliable assessment for:
Spinal structures and deeper trunk or pelvic areas (e.g., cervical, thoracic, lumbar spine)
Abdominal issues, such as hernias or internal lumps
Subcutaneous lumps or masses not involving musculoskeletal tissue
In such cases, we will carefully refer you for more appropriate imaging like MRI, CT, or ultrasound in another context.
FAQ:
IS IT SAFE?
Yes. Ultrasound uses sound waves, not radiation, making it a safe and painless option for assessing musculoskeletal injuries.
DOES IT HURT?
No. Most patients feel a gentle pressure of the probe but it is generally completely painless.
CAN IT HELP WITH CHRONIC INJURIES?
Absolutely. Ultrasound is particularly helpful for ongoing injuries that haven’t improved. MSK diagnostic ultrasound allows us to identify the underlying problem more accurately.
HOW LONG DOES THE SCAN TAKE?
Once the specialist has asked you some questions and assessed the area. You’ll be asked to sit or lie comfortably. A small amount of gel is applied to the area and the specialist moves a hand-held probe over the skin to create live images. Most scans take 20-30 minutes.
WILL I GET THE RESULTS IMMEDIATELY?
Yes. One of the benefits of in house ultrasound is that we can discuss the findings during your visit.
What if my scan appears normal?
It’s quite common to have pain even when the ultrasound shows no visible structural changes such as tears, ruptures, or swelling. If this happens, your clinician will discuss the findings with you in detail during your appointment and advise whether any additional tests or imaging are necessary to investigate further.
WHO PERFORMS THE SCAN?
Your scan is performed by a fully trained osteopath in musculoskeletal diagnostic ultrasound.
HOW do i book a scan
Press the BOOK HERE button below. Select Musculosokeletal Diagnostic Ultrasound consultation to book online or you can give us a call or send an email.