Real Time Ultrasound
Bringing muscle recruitment to life.
Because ultrasound images are captured in real-time, they can show the structure and movement of tissues as well as blood flow thru vessels. Real time ultrasound is non-invasive and does not use radiation. A sound head produced a high frequency sound wave that bounces back off the tissues and produces an image. Very similar to a ships’ sonar. The different densities of the tissue produce a different reflection and thus we are able to differentiate the different layers and types of tissue – muscle, connective tissue, fluid or bone.
Real Time Ultrasound (RTUS) is a tool that gives your physiotherapist a visual into the inner workings of your body. It provides valuable feedback into muscle recruitment and can be used as the ultimate form of biofeedback when recovering from injury. Often muscles ‘switch off’ after injury or surgery and the RTUS can assist in helping you ‘find’ them again.
Conditions that can benefit from the use of RTUS imaging include:
- Low back pain
- Pelvic Floor pain or weakness
- Urinary incontinence
- Bowel incontinence
- Post partem diastasis
- Pregnancy associated back pain
- Pelvic Instability
- Core weakness/dysfunction
- Muscle activation for knee pain – VMO strengthening and recruitment
- Muscle activation for shoulders – post rotator cuff injury, post dislocation, post surgery
- Muscle tightness or over-recruitment often associated with headaches and back pain.
One of the most effective uses of RTUS is rehab involving the core muscles. Often when people sustain a back injury, they revert to a pattern of movement that results in either a lack of core activity or overactivity in some of the core muscles. Overuse or hyperactivity itself can lead to low back pain. Visualizing the different layers of the abdominal muscles can significantly help patients understand and recruit these muscles effectively and efficiently. The result of this is a speedier recovery and long term recovery.