Diagnostic Ultrasound
Real-Time Imaging for Fast, Accurate Injury Diagnostics
When you are dealing with persistent joint pain, a sudden muscle strain, or a sports injury, you want answers right away. At our Asheville wellness clinic, we utilize state-of-the-art Diagnostic Ultrasound (musculoskeletal ultrasound) to see deep inside your soft tissues, joints, and muscles in real time.
Unlike traditional imaging methods that require weeks of waiting for a referral and results, our on-site diagnostic imaging allows Dr. Bart Hodgins to evaluate your injury instantly during your appointment. This means we can pinpoint the exact root cause of your pain and map out a precise, targeted treatment plan immediately.
What is Musculoskeletal (MSK) Ultrasound?
Diagnostic ultrasound uses high-frequency sound waves to capture high-resolution, dynamic images of the inside of your body. While most people associate ultrasounds with pregnancy, musculoskeletal (MSK) ultrasound is a highly specialized technology used to evaluate the body’s moving parts, including:
- Tendons & Ligaments: Checking for tears, sprains, or chronic tendonitis.
- Muscles: Evaluating deep muscle tears, strains, and scar tissue.
- Joints: Identifying fluid buildup, inflammation, and arthritis.
- Nerves: Detecting nerve entrapment or compression issues.
Because ultrasound imaging is dynamic, we can move your joint during the scan. This allows us to see exactly how your tissues behave in motion—something a static X-ray or MRI simply cannot do.
Conditions We Diagnose & Monitor
Our on-site diagnostic ultrasound is an invaluable tool for evaluating a wide range of conditions, including:
- Rotator cuff tears and shoulder impingement
- Plantar fasciitis and heel spurs
- Tennis elbow and golfer’s elbow
- Knee sprains, bursitis, and fluid retention
- Achilles tendonitis and ankle strains
- Carpal tunnel syndrome
The Benefits of On-Site Ultrasound Imaging
- No Radiation: Ultrasound is completely safe, non-invasive, and uses zero radiation.
- Immediate Answers: No need to schedule an external appointment at an imaging center. We scan, diagnose, and explain your results on the same day.
- Dynamic Evaluation: We can view your muscles and tendons while they are actively contracting and moving to catch structural issues that static scans miss.
- Track Your Healing: We use follow-up scans to visually monitor your tissue repair and ensure your rehabilitation program is working perfectly.
What to Expect During Your Scan
Your diagnostic ultrasound comfort is our priority. The procedure is quick, painless, and completely non-invasive:
- A small amount of warm, water-soluble gel is applied to the skin over the target area.
- Dr. Hodgins gently guides a hand-held probe (transducer) over the area to capture live images on our digital monitor.
- We will review the images with you side-by-side, explaining exactly what we see and how it connects to your symptoms.
