Real Time Ultrasound

Real time ultrasound or RTUS is a non invasive technology which allows imaging of the deep muscles that have a supportive function around joints. Most commonly we can utilize RTUS around muscles of the low back, abdomen, hip, pelvic floor, and shoulder.

Weakness in these deep stabilizers is a common problem following pain & injury. To minimize recurrence assessment of this and strength retraining is important to minimize development of recurrent chronic dysfunction.

It is high frequency sound waves that the ultrasound generates which is reconstructed to provide an image of these deeper tissues. This visual representation is extremely helpful for assisting in retraining the patient to ‘switch-on’ and activate the correct muscle as you can’t ‘trick the machine’.

So RTUS is commonly used in treating:

- Low back pain

- Pelvic/hip pain and instability

- Post surgery (back, abdomen, shoulder, hip)

- Incontinence