Real-Time Ultrasound Imaging
Real-time ultrasound (RTUS) imaging is a reliable, noninvasive tool used to help assess musculoskeletal conditions and educate patients on how to train muscles whose anatomical orientation and function makes them difficult to observe. Also called ultrasound scanning or sonography, ultrasound imaging involves the use of high-frequency sound waves to produce images of the inside of the body. Because this tool is very safe, it is the preferred imaging modality for the monitoring of pregnant women and their unborn infants.
Ultrasound provides visual feedback on muscle function and muscle motor control to help the physical therapist assess and treat musculoskeletal conditions such as:
- Chronic pelvic pain
- Hip instability and hip impingement syndromes
- Low back pain
- Post-surgical rehabilitation for back, hip, and shoulder surgery
- Shoulder instability and shoulder impingement related to rotator cuff dysfunction
Real-time ultrasound imaging provides patients with unprecedented biofeedback on muscle function and muscle motor control. A unique education tool, ultrasound helps patients learn how to control muscle contractions by allowing them to observe images of their muscles in real time. Ultraound can help patients improve their motor control of muscles such as:
- Pelvic floor
- Transversus abdominis (deepest abdominal layer)
- Lumbar mutifidus (deep back muscles)
- Subscapularis (rotator cuff)
- Iliacus, Gluteus minimus, Obturator internus (deep hip muscles)
The most common clinical use of real-time ultrasound is to image the abdominal muscles. In this ultrasound image, the deep abdominal muscle transversus abdominis is contracted with some overflow to internal oblique muscle:
Real-time ultrasound can help assess and treat conditions that include:
Schedule a real-time ultrasound assessment to evaluate your pelvic floor exercise form. Contact us at 202-463-7611.
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