Ultrasound of joints, muscles, and soft tissues is an ultrasound examination of the musculoskeletal system: muscles, tendons, ligaments, joint capsules, and surrounding tissues. Patients commonly refer to it as “sono,” while the professional term is musculoskeletal ultrasound. At Medirad in Bratislava, we use a linear probe to examine the specific area you are concerned about.
Why ultrasound is valuable for the musculoskeletal system
Ultrasound visualizes soft tissues in real time, allowing the physician to ask you to move your joint while observing the dynamics. A snapping tendon or compression that only appears in a specific shoulder position will not be visible on static images. Additionally, this examination does not use ionizing radiation, so it can be repeated at any time to monitor healing.
Limitations of ultrasound
Sound waves reflect off the bone surface, meaning ultrasound cannot visualize inside the bone. It also cannot assess structures hidden deep within a joint behind bone, such as most intra-articular knee ligaments. For these issues, X-ray or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is used.
The examination focuses on the specific area of concern, not the entire musculoskeletal system at once.
Procedures under ultrasound guidance
Ultrasound can also guide interventions to ensure the needle is directed precisely where needed. At Medirad, we perform hydrodissection, targeted ozone therapy, and barbotage for calcific tendinopathy using this method. These are separate procedures with their own costs and are not part of the diagnostic examination.