Musculoskeletal Ultrasounds Specialist

What are musculoskeletal ultrasounds?

Musculoskeletal ultrasound is a diagnostic imaging tool. It uses sound wave technology to capture images of the tissues and body parts that make up your musculoskeletal system, including your muscles, bones, joints, tendons, ligaments, and cartilage.

For imaging, musculoskeletal ultrasounds are safe and noninvasive. Illinois Spine and Scoliosis Center has a board-certified physical medicine and rehabilitation physician who specializes in evaluating musculoskeletal ultrasounds to get an accurate diagnosis.

What can musculoskeletal ultrasounds diagnose?

Musculoskeletal ultrasounds help the experts at Illinois Spine and Scoliosis Center diagnose many musculoskeletal diseases and injuries. They may recommend the noninvasive imaging study to diagnose:

• Tendon tears
• Tendonitis
• Muscle tears
• Ligament sprains and tears
• Arthritis
• Nerve entrapment
• Soft tissue tumors
• Bursitis
• Ganglion cysts

What makes the musculoskeletal ultrasound different from other types of imaging tests is that it allows your provider at Illinois Spine and Scoliosis Center to assess your injured or diseased body part when stationary and in motion. 

Seeing your injured or diseased body part in motion provides valuable information that helps your provider create a more effective treatment plan. 

What happens during musculoskeletal ultrasounds?

Your provider at Illinois Spine and Scoliosis Center reviews what you can expect during our musculoskeletal ultrasound at your evaluation. 

When having the procedure for diagnostic imaging, your provider may request you wear comfortable clothing that allows for easy access to the body part undergoing the study. There’s no other special preparation needed.

During the ultrasound, your provider applies a special gel to your skin and glides the ultrasound wand over your skin to get the desired images. A musculoskeletal ultrasound usually takes 30 minutes or less, and you can resume your usual activities after.

What treatments use musculoskeletal ultrasounds?

Illinois Spine and Scoliosis Center may use musculoskeletal ultrasounds to assist in treatments such as injections, aspirations, or biopsies.

The imaging tool improves your provider’s accuracy of needle placement for the necessary procedure. Musculoskeletal ultrasound treatments may require additional preparation on your part, such as not eating or drinking for several hours before the procedure.

These treatments may take longer than the diagnostic musculoskeletal ultrasound, and you may need to arrange to have someone drive you home after treatment.

To find out more about musculoskeletal ultrasounds at Illinois Spine and Scoliosis Center, call the office nearest you or schedule an appointment online today.