What is MSKUS?
MSKUS stands for musculoskeletal ultrasound. It allows you to see inside your body at the area of the joint and muscle where you feel pain. You can see during your physical therapy session how the various structures move and what is the effect of your problem to the body.
Recent advances in sonar and ultrasound technology have created a more functional and practical approach to evaluate joints, muscles, ligaments, and even nerves. This technology is called musculoskeletal ultrasound.
Diagnostic ultrasound offers a number of important advantages compared to X-Ray, CT, and MRI, in terms of safety and effectiveness. Diagnostic ultrasound is noninvasive and offers real-time imaging, allowing for examinations of structures at rest and in motion. This ability to capture the movement of musculoskeletal components differentiates it from other imaging modalities and can permit more accurate diagnoses.
MSKUS simply uses sonic waves, and there is no exposure to radiation.
Hands-On PT Emily Vandervort, DT, DPT, performing an MSKUS on a patient with knee pain.
Why Do We Use MSKUS Tests?
- It saves you time and money! Before we begin treating you, we are able to know what the problem is (and show you!). We can recognize sooner if this is a problem a physical therapist can help with, or if you require other medical services.
- It’s simply more accurate than without. Being able to see the pain with these tests helps us treat you with efficiency by providing us with knowledge of exactly where the pain is coming from. This is huge for physical therapists and could revolutionize the entire industry – Most PT clinics don’t offer all or any of these tests pre-treatment!!
- It helps give a sense of calm. These tests us are SURE what the problem is, and how we can help.
What MSKUS Used to Evaluate?
- Shoulder Pain
- Elbow Pain
- Wrist Pain
- Knee Pain, and
- Foot Pain
Dr. Rizopoulos is RMSK Board Certified in Musculoskeletal Ultrasound Sonography and also in Point of Care Musculoskeletal Ultrasound (POCUS) and has performed thousands of studies on patients helping them identify the underlying cause of their problem.
For more information, contact us at Astoria, NY center.