Muscle ultrasound

About 30% of all sports injuries are caused by muscle tissue pathology. Ultrasound examination is the leading method in diagnosing muscle tissue pathology, surpassing magnetic resonance imaging in resolution. In addition, the possibility of dynamic examination in real time allows detecting pathology invisible during static examination.

Ultrasound examination of muscle tissue (echography, ultrasound of muscles) is an informative diagnostic method that is used to assess the condition of soft tissues in almost any area of the human body. Muscle ultrasound is a simple and accessible examination method, it allows you to assess the condition of tissues in real time.

The ultrasound procedure is completely harmless and can be repeated multiple times if necessary.

Indications for the procedure

Muscle tissue lesions are quite common in medical practice. The most common are inflammatory processes against the background of diffuse connective tissue pathologies, congenital disorders, toxic muscle damage in onco- or hematological diseases, as well as myopathy, etc. It is not always advisable to use complex invasive studies, and not all patients have indications for them. Therefore, often the procedure of choice is ultrasound of muscles - a non-invasive diagnostic method that does not have a radiation effect and is relatively inexpensive (which is important).

An ultrasound of muscles can be performed on almost anyone: unlike tomographic procedures, an ultrasound examination does not require complete long-term immobilization of the patient, which is very important in relation to children and the elderly.

Muscle ultrasound helps to identify such pathological conditions as injuries, ruptures, hernias, hemorrhages, abscesses. It can also detect various types of neoplasms: lipomas, cysts, sarcomas, liposarcomas, melanomas, glomus tumors, hemangiomas, neurofibromas, etc.

In addition, ultrasound of muscles is used to clarify problematic diagnoses, monitor the progress of surgical intervention, and observe the dynamics of treatment.

As a rule, this procedure is prescribed:

• when muscle pain occurs;
• in case of forced restriction of physical activity;
• in case of injuries and after them;
• in systemic pathologies;
• in acute inflammation (myositis);
• in the presence of edema or the appearance of palpable neoplasms of unknown origin.

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Necessary preparation

No special preparation is required for performing ultrasound of muscles. If there are open skin lesions (wounds, scratches, cuts) at the site of the proposed diagnostic manipulation, then it is necessary to wait for them to heal.

Sometimes, if there is excessive hair growth in the area being examined, it may be necessary to use a razor.

No other preparatory measures are required before performing an ultrasound of muscles. The patient can lead a normal life: there are no restrictions on nutrition and fluid intake. It is advisable to come to the procedure in loose clothing so that it is possible to easily expose the body part being examined.

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Detailed technique of implementation

Regardless of the location of the area being examined on the body, the technique for performing ultrasound examination of muscles is always the same and consists of the following stages:

1. The patient removes clothing from the required area of the body.
2. The patient lies down on the couch, takes a comfortable position, and relaxes.
3. The doctor treats the skin at the site of examination with a special gel substance and applies an ultrasound sensor.
4. The doctor examines the affected tissue on the monitor screen: the resulting image is the result of ultrasound reflection from the tissue surface.

At the end of the procedure, the gel substance should be removed with a napkin. Then the patient gets dressed and can go home. No additional care is required after the procedure.

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Contraindications for the procedure

The procedure of ultrasound examination of muscles has practically no contraindications: diagnostics can be postponed if there are deep skin lesions, wounds, etc. on the body in the area of the proposed examination. In general, this method is used in newborns, in the elderly, and in pregnant or lactating women.

Muscle ultrasound is well received by patients, since its implementation is not accompanied by any unpleasant sensations, and the study itself is short-term, safe and at the same time informative.

If necessary, ultrasound of muscles can be repeated several times. For example, this is what happens when monitoring the dynamics of tissue recovery after surgical interventions and in some other pathologies.

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What does a muscle ultrasound show?

Healthy soft tissues generally have similar density and other characteristics. However, muscle ultrasound shows painful changes in tissues more clearly and in detail, and in real time, and this is the main difference between this diagnostic method and other procedures.

Muscle ultrasound allows us to identify even small pathological formations, which will be recorded by the doctor on the monitor screen as a change in the echo signal.

Most often, specialists are contacted to scan the muscles of the following organs and body parts:

• Ultrasound of the leg muscles is performed to detect post-traumatic hematomas in the tissues of the thighs and ankle joint. The image of such seals looks like localized foci with excessive blood filling. When conducting the examination, the doctor often asks the patient to move the limb in one direction or another: this allows one to examine the possible presence of a purulent process (on ultrasound, at the moment of fluid displacement, the density of the focus changes).
• Ultrasound of the thigh muscles is most often required after traumatic injuries, as well as when there is a suspicion of a tumor process. If the patient has previously been diagnosed with a disease such as a hip hernia, the ultrasound method will help assess the dynamics of treatment. In addition, the study is prescribed to clarify the nature of manipulations before surgery, or to assess the condition of the tissues upon its completion.
• Ultrasound of the calf muscles is required in case of serious traumatic injuries to the ankle joint, and especially if there is a suspicion of a violation of the integrity of the muscles and/or tendons. Ultrasound also helps to detect tumor processes, cysts, and also allows monitoring the quality of regeneration of damaged tissues.
• Ultrasound of the gastrocnemius muscle is usually recommended after injuries, as this method perfectly visualizes tissue ruptures, small-vessel damage, hematomas. Any tumor processes (both benign and malignant) are also perfectly visible.
• Ultrasound of the shoulder muscles is prescribed for degenerative changes in tissues, in the presence of an inflammatory process (arthritis, myositis), as well as traumatic injury (stretching, rupture, contusion, hematoma, etc.). During the diagnosis, the doctor may ask the patient to raise his arm, move it to the side: changing the position of the limb allows for a more accurate assessment of blood circulation in the area of tumor or inflammatory pathologies.
• Ultrasound of the abdominal muscles is mainly performed to determine tumor processes of various etiologies, to assess the state of blood circulation, to identify hemorrhages. Ultrasound can be used in the postoperative period to monitor the dynamics of tissue healing.
• Ultrasound of the neck muscles is prescribed to determine diseases of inflammatory etiology, to assess the area of damage to muscle tissue. Diagnostics are carried out when suspicious neoplasms in the form of balls, nodes, seals are palpated in the neck area. Additionally, during the ultrasound, the doctor may pay attention to the thyroid gland, carotid arteries, as well as the muscles that surround the trachea. When conducting an ultrasound of the neck muscles, the doctor may ask the patient to turn his head, or slightly tilt it to the right or left.
• Ultrasound of the back muscles allows for a good examination of soft and cartilaginous tissue, as well as some bone tissues of the spine. Spinal cord structures and the vascular network are perfectly amenable to visualization (it is possible to determine the quality of blood circulation and blood filling). Ultrasound of the muscles is often used if the patient complains of frequent headaches, limited movement in the neck or shoulder area, a feeling of "crawling ants", numbness of the limbs, dizziness.
• Ultrasound of the lumbar muscles is relevant in the presence of aching pains radiating to the lower limbs, with muscle numbness, with improper functioning of the organs located in the small pelvis. Ultrasound is especially often used to assess the condition of soft tissues after injuries and other damaging factors.
• Ultrasound of the pectoral muscle is prescribed for ruptures, osteophytes, myositis or hypoplasia/agenesis. Ruptures of the pectoral muscle are rare - with a direct blow to the chest, with a powerful eccentric muscle contraction. The ultrasound image of the pectoral muscle is a hypoechoic structure with echogenic perimysium septa inside. The study is often practiced as part of diagnosing the condition of the shoulder muscles and / or thoracic spine.
• Ultrasound of the sternocleidomastoid muscles is relevant mainly in childhood, but in some situations the study is also carried out on adults - for example, with insufficient muscle blood supply, with scarring and shortening as a result of muscle fiber rupture. The second name for this type of diagnostics is ultrasound of the sternocleidomastoid muscle: this muscle in the form of an oblique spiral runs through the cervical region from the mastoid process to the sternoclavicular joint. In adults, injury to this muscle is relatively rare.
• Ultrasound of the piriformis muscle is performed for the syndrome of the same name (meaning the piriformis syndrome): structural changes in the sciatic nerve are studied (the line of the subpiriform space and the distal direction to the bifurcation area). Diagnostics are prescribed for pain in the gluteal areas, when painful sensations spread to the lower limbs or perineum, and when the plantar region is numb.
• Ultrasound of arm muscles is used for detailed examination of suspicious neoplasms – not only in the muscle area, but also in joints and blood vessels. Patients often seek such diagnostics with complaints of regular aching pain in the limb, limited mobility not associated with problems in the joints. After an injury, ultrasound will indicate the nature and extent of damage to the arm muscles.
• Ultrasound of the trapezius muscle is prescribed for its overstraining, stretching due to high-intensity training, as well as for bruises, mygealosis, idiopathic pain. The study allows you to establish the correct diagnosis if the essence of the disease cannot be determined by conventional palpation.
• Ultrasound of the masticatory muscles is most often prescribed to assess the consequences of traumatic injury. Immediately after the injury, the examination will help determine the size of the hematoma. In addition, such diagnostics are carried out in the presence of purulent or other neoplasms and nodes in the facial area.
• Ultrasound of the sternocleidomastoid muscles in children is performed in cases of congenital underdevelopment of the sternocleidomastoid muscle, after its injury during labor, and also in cases of birth injury to the cervical spine. Ultrasound of the muscles determines inflammatory changes in tissues and is used to diagnose neoplasms. The procedure is especially often used to identify torticollis, as well as to determine the functionality of the arterial vessels that supply blood to the brain.
• Ultrasound of the eye muscles helps to examine the quality of eyeball movements, assess the structure of the oculomotor muscles and optic nerve, identify tumors, strictures, effusion, etc. In addition, ultrasound can determine pathological changes in the ocular circulation at the initial stage of development. This type of diagnostics is not performed in case of injury to the eyelids and periorbital area, open traumatic eye injuries, or retrobulbar bleeding.

Reviews

There are practically no negative reviews about such a diagnostic method as ultrasound of muscles. This is an inexpensive, safe and highly accurate method for detecting various neoplasms and inflammatory changes. The procedure allows you to assess the likelihood of post-traumatic consequences, detect foreign bodies in muscle tissue.

Muscle pathologies on ultrasound are manifested by changes in tissue structure, increased acoustic density, and pronounced changes in blood circulation in muscle tissue under load. Tissues are reliably visualized, and characteristic features of muscle structure are determined depending on the patient's age.

Muscle ultrasound is a simple and accessible diagnostic test that is highly informative. Unlike many other studies, this procedure can be repeated many times without any harm to health. This method is especially often used in traumatology and emergency medicine, as well as to detect tumor processes.

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