Ultrasound

Chronic knee pain can prevent you from being physically active. To identify the source of your pain, the experts at Reflex Knee Specialists utilize ultrasound and dynamic testing on-site. They also use this advanced imaging technology to guide injections of pain medications or platelet-rich plasma (PRP) into precise locations in your knee joint. To schedule an ultrasound evaluation, call the office in Portland, Oregon; Bellevue, Washington; or Tempe, Arizona, or book an appointment online today.

What is an ultrasound?

An ultrasound is a noninvasive imaging technology that uses sound waves to create images of internal structures, like muscles, tendons, and ligaments.

The sound waves bounce off your soft tissues and travel back to an external monitor. Your Reflex Knee Specialists provider can assess the interior structures of your knee without incisions to identify injuries or diseases that contribute to pain.

Why would I need an ultrasound?

Reflex Knee Specialists provide dynamic ultrasound testing services on-site to identify the source of persistent knee pain, swelling, and stiffness while your knee is in motion.

Ultrasound is used to detect the following: 

• Osteoarthritis
• Bursitis
• Synovitis
• Tendon damage or tears
• Hoffa Impingement Syndrome
• Meniscal tears
• Cartilage damage
• Baker’s cyst (popliteal cyst)
• Lateral collateral  ligament (LCL) tears
• Medial collateral ligament (MCL) tears

Annual ultrasound knee assessments are also available for people at high risk of knee injuries or degenerative joint diseases. These preventive screenings can identify underlying issues before you experience pain, stiffness, and other disruptive symptoms.

The team also uses advanced ultrasound during joint injections, platelet-rich plasma (PRP) treatments, and other therapies. The technology helps your provider guide the needle into the proper location in your knee joint to optimize the outcome of your treatment.

What happens during an ultrasound?

During your ultrasound at Reflex Knee Specialists, you first get comfortable on an exam chair. Your provider then places a hand-held transducer on your knee that delivers sound waves through your skin. 

To get a better understanding of what’s going on inside your knee joint, your provider may press on the transducer and ask you to make certain movements with your knee, so they can see your joint in action.

This pressure and movement can cause minor discomfort, but the procedure isn’t painful.

Your provider watches the images on the screen to identify signs of injury, disease, and inflammation. Based on the results of your ultrasound, they can customize a treatment plan to reduce inflammation and pain and support the healing of your knee joint.

Immediately after your ultrasound, you can go back to work or your other activities without limitations. You might need additional ultrasound testing as you progress through your treatment plan and physical therapy to confirm your knee joint is healing efficiently.

To schedule an ultrasound evaluation, call the Reflex Knee specialist office near you or book an appointment online today.