Real-time ultrasound is an imaging technique that can offer more detail or another perspective with assessment and treatment in certain situations. Some of our staff members offer it as part of a physiotherapy treatment plan.
One Tool, Several Use Cases
Real-time ultrasound (RTUS) isn’t a routine part of our care, but it can come in handy for a couple of things. One is helping us assess your individual anatomy and muscle function through imaging so that we can further analyze what’s causing symptoms. It can also show us what’s working or changing (or not) over time as we work through your treatment plan.
We also like using it to show you what’s happening in your body, like if your pelvic floor is contracting or relaxing, or if your bladder is empty or not. The visual can be a great tool for some people to get that ‘aha’ moment to improve their self awareness.
Core, Bladder, and Bowel
We may use RTUS for diastasis or postpartum core rehab, as it’s great to assess how the abdominal muscles are firing together. We might also use it in cases of overactive bladder, prolapse, and incontinence. It’s a particularly handy tool to assess people with penises to assess deeper parts of their bladder anatomy which is harder to palpate.
Good to Knows
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RTUS is just one tool we can use in our bigger picture approach to your physio treatment plan. It is not necessarily a better assessment, as this really depends on context. Rather than making it a routine part of our care, we use it when we need to; and in those cases, it can be a very valuable add-on.
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Not to worry! If you need ultrasound as part of your treatment plan, your physio will bring in someone else on our team for a consult, and work together with them to support your treatment plan.
