Musculoskeletal Ultrasound has added new tools in healthcare professions dealing with the musculoskeletal and neuromuscular systems.
Advances in ultrasound technology have created a practical approach to evaluate joints, muscles, ligaments and even nerves. Clinical evidence and research support using ultrasound as the first diagnostic test for numerous musculoskeletal conditions. Diagnostic ultrasound offers significant advantages compared to X-Ray, CT, and MRI, regarding safety and effectiveness. Musculoskeletal ultrasound simply uses sonic waves, and there is no exposure to radiation.
At the same time, diagnostic ultrasound is noninvasive and offers real-time imaging, allowing for examinations of structures at rest and in motion. This ability to capture the movement of musculoskeletal components differentiates it from other imaging modalities and can permit a more accurate diagnosis.
The Physical Therapists at Larson Rehabilitation have access to a portable ultrasound unit in their practice and able to use it for their patients as needed, creating effective treatment plans based not only on physical examination findings but on objective evidence-based diagnostic data.
The American Institute of Ultrasound in Medicine (AIUM) released a groundbreaking statement declaring physical therapists as qualified providers to perform and/or interpret musculoskeletal ultrasound examinations.
