I can see clearly now: diagnostic ultrasound

Ultrasound is one of the important tools we use to assess “what’s going on under your skin” when diagnosing foot, ankle and lower limb issues.

Ultrasound has come a long way in recent years, from the original heavy wired to today’s hand-held, wireless units like our own Clarius portable ultrasound system.

What is an ultrasound scan ?

Many of you will be familiar with ultrasound scans, sometimes called sonograms, of unborn babies in the womb.

Ultrasound scans use high frequency sound waves to create an image of internal structures inside your body. Rather like a radar system, the sound waves bounce off the different structures, creating distinctive “echo” patterns that build to form a moving image on a screen.

Our small portable ultrasound units allow us to view the muscles, nerves, blood vessels and bones in your feet and lowers limbs using just a small probe that we move over your skin. Thanks to major advances in the technology of scans, we can view these incredibly detailed scans on our computers and even on a smart phone via wifi.

Why we use ultrasound imaging

Ultrasound, or diagnostic ultrasound imaging, produces high quality images of your lower limb musculoskeletal system. Unlike x-rays or CT scans, there is no exposure to radiation in an ultrasound examination, as only sound waves are used. It can be performed quickly and easy by our team as required, with no preparation or side effects.

Detailed musculoskeletal imagery enables us to literally “see” the problem inside your feet. These images help us:

Make a more accurate clinical diagnosis than by feel alone
Devise better treatment strategies and interventions
Monitor changes and improvements in response to treatments

For example, diagnostic ultrasound imaging can help us spot the signs of suspected inflammatory arthritis, so we can offer timely interventions and therapeutic treatments for your condition.

Other uses of ultrasound

Ultrasound can also be used to assess blood flow in veins. If you have been prescribed compression stockings to improve your circulation, for example, you may have had your legs examined using a Doppler ultrasound unit.

Ultrasound can also be used as a therapy in the treatment of some musculoskeletal issues and tendon issues. Therapeutic ultrasound has also been used in the treatment of soft tissue such as Morton’s neuroma and bursitis.