MSK Ultrasound

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MSK Ultrasound is a musculoskeletal ultrasound.

Ultrasound imaging of the musculoskeletal system is safe and painless, and produces pictures of the inside of the body using sound waves.

Ultrasound imaging, also called ultrasound scanning or sonography, involves the use of a small transducer (probe) and ultrasound gel placed directly on the skin. High-frequency sound waves are transmitted from the probe through the gel into the body. The transducer collects the sounds that bounce back and a computer then uses those sound waves to create an image. Ultrasound examinations do not use ionizing radiation (as used in x-rays), thus there is no radiation exposure to the patient. Because ultrasound images are captured in real-time, they can show the structure and movement of the body’s internal organs, as well as blood flowing through blood vessels.

This type of imaging is a noninvasive medical test that helps physicians diagnose and treat medical conditions. Ultrasound images of the musculoskeletal system provide pictures of muscles, tendons, ligaments, joints and soft tissue throughout the body.

MSK Ultrasounds involve the imaging of muscles and the skeleton, and most often involves the interaction of both, such as joints and tendons. Some of the conditions that might cause a doctor to call for a musculoskeletal ultrasound scan include tendon problems, Achilles tears, arthritis or joint pain and bleeding within any muscles. Basically any kind of injury or pain that involves tendons, ligaments, muscles, joints or other soft tissue is something that might involve a musculoskeletal imaging scan.

A common use of musculoskeletal ultrasound techniques is for sports medicine and conditions like injured hamstrings or tendons. Rotator cuff injuries, which are common for baseball players, are also examined using musculoskeletal ultrasound scanning. Of course many of the patients for musculoskeletal scans are not professional athletes but have sustained some kind of injury to their soft tissue.