Ultrasound Technology
Ultrasound technology has been used in many areas of medicine as a means of evaluating internal organs and structures with real-time imaging. People are most familiar with ultrasound in its application during pregnancy. Nowadays, this same technology is being used by sports medicine physicians to help diagnose various injuries, including tendon, ligament, muscle, and joint and joint injuries. In fact, ultrasound is now being considered the stethoscope of the sports medicine physician.
There are several advantages that ultrasound has over x-rays and MRI. First, ultrasound affords us real-time imaging of the injured structure. These images are visible to both the physician and the patient during the exam. Secondly, ultrasound allows for dynamic examination of various structures. For example, we are able to assess the various tendons at the shoulder in different positions. X-rays and MRI can only take static, or still-frame, “pictures” of the injured structure. Thirdly, we are oftentimes able to see much more detail on ultrasound than MRI. To this point, MRI views structures in thinly sliced picture frames. In some instances, the injury may exist between these MRI slices, which is not a problem during an ultrasound examination. Further, ultrasound affords us the ability to evaluate the vascularity of injured structures, which indicates an ongoing healing or inflammatory process. Lastly, ultrasound technology provides us with the ability to put an ultrasound probe directly over a tender/painful area and assess the anatomy at that site for any injury.
From an interventional standpoint, ultrasound allows us to be much more accurate and precise with our injections. This is an absolute necessity when performing regenerative medicine procedures, in that the success of the procedure is highly dependent on the accuracy of the injection.
At 360 Sports, Spine and Wellness, our physicians are experts in the use of musculoskeletal ultrasound. It is an extension of our physical exam and oftentimes provides answers to patients prior to the MRI or xray. Call us to schedule an appointment and allow our experts to examine your injury with ultrasound technology!
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