Introduction to Musculoskeletal Ultrasound

A clinician applies gel and moves a small probe over the skin. The images can show tendon movement, muscle changes, fluid around a joint, some ligament injuries and features near the surface. Because the probe can move while you bend or rotate, the assessment may show how a structure behaves rather than only how it looks at rest.

Ultrasound does not display every structure equally well. Deep bone and some internal joint areas may need another test. The result is interpreted alongside your symptoms, examination and medical history. Point-of-care ultrasound may be performed during a consultation when a focused question needs a quick image.

Wear clothing that allows access to the area being examined and mention tender spots before the scan begins. The probe may press on the skin, especially over an inflamed area, but you can report discomfort. There is usually no special preparation for a routine examination. If the scan is being used to guide a procedure such as a cortisone injection, ask about medicines, eating instructions and aftercare beforehand. Keep the report with any other imaging so your clinician can compare the findings with your symptoms.

Ultrasound itself does not treat a sudden injury. Seek prompt medical assessment for a limb that looks deformed, rapidly increasing swelling, severe pain after trauma, new weakness, or numbness that does not settle. Fever with a hot, red and swollen joint also needs urgent attention. Do not delay care while waiting for an imaging appointment if symptoms are rapidly worsening.

Ask what structure the scan is intended to assess, whether movement will be tested, what the images can and cannot answer, and whether another form of imaging is needed. If an injection is planned, ask how ultrasound guidance changes the procedure and which aftercare symptoms matter.