Diagnostic ultrasound or an ultrasound scan (USS) uses a probe placed on your body that emits high-frequency sound waves. These sound waves bounce off your body tissues and back to the probe and produce images of structures from within your body. These images can provide valuable information, that combined with clinical assessment from your therapist as part of your physiotherapy assessment, can provide you with a diagnosis and inform the best course of treatment for your injury or problem.
An US scan can be used to assess many different body parts and problems. At our clinics in Wandsworth Town, Putney, Clapham Junction, Chelsea and Battersea Nine Elms we provide musculoskeletal (MSK) diagnostic ultrasound as part of your physiotherapy assessment. This includes the following body parts and problems:
A diagnostic ultrasound scan can be used to assess many different body parts and problems. At our clinics in Wandsworth Town, Clapham Junction and Battersea Nine Elms we provide musculoskeletal (MSK) diagnostic ultrasound.
This includes the following body parts and problems:
An ultrasound probe, lubricated with ultrasound gel, is placed over the painful and surrounding areas of your body to assess the health and function of those structures. The probe emits harmless sound waves that help to generate a picture on the display screen of the ultrasound machine being used. You can’t hear or feel the sound waves used during a diagnostic ultrasound scan.
After your diagnostic ultrasound scan treatment options will be discussed including physiotherapy or osteopathy, rehab, Pilates, shockwave or ultrasound guided injections.
For an MSK diagnostic ultrasound scan there is little preparation that needs to take place. Please be prepared to expose the area of body to be scanned such as wearing a pair of shorts or sports bra for women. The area to be scanned will have ultrasound gel placed over it. The ultrasound gel is often a little cold.
At our clinics in Wandsworth Town | SW18, Clapham Junction | SW11 and Battersea Nine Elms | SW8 an MSK diagnostic ultrasound scans lasts approximately 20-25 minutes. You may have an diagnostic ultrasound scan as part of your assessment with the clinical director, clinical lead or other suitably qualified physio when you book a physiotherapy appointment or any other appointment where an US scan is included. However, you may be referred for, or request to have an US scan after your initial physiotherapy or osteopathy appointment with another therapist or another clinic. In this case the diagnostic ultrasound appointment will be 30 minutes.
There are no after effects of having an MSK diagnostic ultrasound scan and you can go home as soon as the USS has finished. In most cases you will be told the results of your scan during and after it’s been carried out. However, there may be occasions where the images need to be analysed in more detail and a report will be sent to you in the following days.
We’ll discuss the results of your USS with your therapist and this can be used to clarify your diagnosis and also your treatment and home exercise plan.
No, there are no known risks or side effects from the sound waves used in an diagnostic ultrasound scan. There is no pain involved other than the often cold ultrasound gel that it sued, and sometime the pressure of the probe on your body may be a little uncomfortable.
Unfortunately not, your diagnostic ultrasound scan is not covered to be performed by a physiotherapist and you will need to self fund the appointment.
No, we only conduct an MSK diagnostic ultrasound scans as listed above. For clarity we do not scan:
