Ultrasound

Advantages in Musculoskeletal Injuries

Emerging advances in high-resolution ultrasound imaging have opened new opportunities for improving the care of patients with musculoskeletal injuries. Ultrasound uses sound waves to provide real-time, high-resolution images of tendons, ligaments, muscles, and nerves throughout the body. Ultrasound uses sound waves, not radiation and therefore does not have any of the inherent risk associated with radiation. It is a non-invasive procedure, and requires only gel to be put on the body part and then a small transducer is placed over the area, which is usually painless. The transducer then transmits the image to a screen for the practitioner to see.

Skilled practitioners at California Sports and Orthopaedic Institute now use musculoskeletal ultrasound to diagnose and treat a wide range of tendon, muscle and joint disorders. They have been specifically trained in its use and on reading the ultrasound images of musculoskeletal disorders. They also continue to update their knowledge with continuing education programs on ultrasound.

Ultrasound is an in house procedure, we have several ultrasounds available at both our Berkeley and Orinda offices. Ultrasound can help us evaluate tendons, muscles, and ligaments. Ultrasound can be performed live, allowing dynamic evaluation of ligaments and tendons, as well as guiding needles to target areas throughout the body.

Ultrasounds are helpful in diagnosing Rotator Cuff and Achilles tendon tears, they are also helpful with muscle tears, soft- tissue masses, diagnosing bleeding into the muscle and early arthritis, as well as diagnosing and evaluating bakers and meniscal cyst.

Ultrasound is very helpful in assisting with musculoskeletal injections, as well as aspirations of the joint and cyst, as we can see exactly where the needle is going during the injection, this helps to make the injections less painful and more accurate.

Unfortunately, ultrasound is a costly and complex technology, and is not affordable for all practices in the Bay Area. California Sports and Orthopaedic has invested in ultrasound and has trained their practitioners in this technique to give you the best of care.