Ultrasound of sports injuries of the musculoskeletal system: gender differences

Utilizing MSK Ultrasound for Comprehensive Assessment of the Femoral Trochlea: A Game Changer in Sports Medicine

Musculoskeletal (MSK) ultrasound has emerged as a valuable tool for sports physical therapists in the assessment and treatment of various knee pathologies. Its ability to provide high-resolution images of soft tissue and superficial bone surfaces makes it especially useful for sports physical therapists and orthopedic clinicians. Specifically, MSK-ultrasound is increasingly recognized as a potent tool for the assessment of the femoral trochlea. Its non-invasive nature and dynamic imaging capabilities make it particularly suited for visualizing the femoral trochlea, a critical component in knee function and biomechanics. The use of MSK ultrasound in the evaluating the femoral trochlea provides sports medicine professionals with a dynamic, non-invasive, and cost-effective means to diagnose, and monitor knee-related injuries. This article delves into the utility of MSK ultrasound in the anatomical and functional assessment of the femoral trochlea, elucidating its benefits, limitations, and clinical implications for athletes.

MSK Ultrasound - An IJSPT Perspective

MSK ultrasound is a valuable imaging technique which has become increasingly popular in recent years. This efficient technique proves beneficial in a variety of ways. MSK ultrasound effectively streamlines the process by enabling practitioners to securely and accurately image and assess structures all in one simple step. By allowing healthcare providers to access critical information quickly and conveniently, MSK ultrasound can help identify conditions early when interventions are most effective. Moreover, it may be able to shorten diagnostic times and reduce costs through more cost-effective use of resources such as imaging and laboratory testing. Furthermore, MSK ultrasound can provide additional insights into musculoskeletal anatomy and help improve patient care and outcomes. In addition, utilizing this method reduces exposure to radiation and provides enhanced patient comfort with its quick scan duration. MSK ultrasound has a high potential to provide quick and accurate diagnosis of MSK disturbances when used correctly. As clinicians become more comfortable and familiar with this technology, we will continue to see its use expand for various MSK assessments. In this commentary we'll explore how ultrasound can be used in physical therapy, specifically for musculoskeletal assessment. We'll also look at some of the potential benefits and limitations of using ultrasound in PT practice.

Effect of Rehabilitation Physical Training on Basketball Injury under Ultrasound Examination

In order to solve the problem of observing the effect of rehabilitation physical training on basketball player injury, a kind of observation study on the effect of rehabilitation physical training on basketball player injury based on memory ultrasound examination was proposed. This study makes a comprehensive analysis of physical fitness training factors such as physical fitness test plan, training arrangement, training method, training monitoring, and effect evaluation. Through the experiment, it is found that there are still gaps in physical training, diagnostic standards, training plans and requirements, load monitoring, standardization of operation, nutrition, and recovery in the training organization. There are only 23.81% of full-time physical coaches and 25.40% of professional team doctors at all levels of sports teams. There were only 23.81% of full-time physical fitness coaches and 25.40% of professional team doctors in all levels of sports teams. Basketball players in the basketball injury survey had 67 sports injuries throughout the year, with a rate of 3.35 injuries per person and 2.48 injuries per 1000 hours. The location of chronic injuries is usually the lower back, knee joint, and ankle. The main injuries are due to the physical component, with injuries occurring most frequently throughout the training season in July, August, and September. Experiments show that good and professional physical training can reduce the risk of injury to a greater extent than strengthening the specific skills of athletes.

Application of Tissue Engineered Nanomaterials in Meniscus Sports Injury Repair

In daily life and sports activities, the knee joint is the dominant joint. Movements such as walking upstairs, running, and walking require the knee joint to function. The principle of tissue engineering and the technical methods of molecular biology to construct functional meniscus replacement products in vitro have become an ideal method to fundamentally solve the meniscus injury. This paper aims to study the application of tissue engineered nanomaterials in meniscal sports injury repair. In this paper, KOA exercise therapy based on Kalman filter theory is proposed, which has a great effect on the rehabilitation of bone tissue injuries. The experimental results of this paper show that in the number of people with meniscus injuries in 2013, the percentage of people younger than 25 years old was 13%, and the percentage of people younger than 25 years old in 2020 was 12%, which did not change much. However, the percentage of people over 40 years old was 57% in 2013, and by 2020, the percentage is 66%. Although the increase is not large, the percentage of people over the age of 40 is the highest every year, which means that older people have a higher proportion of meniscal injuries.

Ultrasound Diagnosis Technology for Sports Injury Detection and Prevention: A Mini Review

Ultrasound as a medical diagnosis tool, comprising the strengths of noninvasive, portable and cost-saving, and it allows the evaluation of soft tissue pathology. In sports medicine field, sonography technology is used for the detection and prevention of injuries of upper and lower limbs, mainly including elbow, shoulder, knee and ankle joints. The implement of ultrasound diagnosis technology was discussed in this narrative literature review. Sonographic images of elbows could provide a dynamic assessment of medial joint laxity. Due to the importance of ultrasound assessment in lower-limb muscles, tendons, and ligaments, this technology has been applied extensively for many types of extra-articular injuries in the lower limb. Most muscle injuries can be assessed and graded using the ultrasound apparatus. Overall, sonographic image evaluation is a reliable and handy method for the initial examination of acute or chronic sports injuries.

Sonography: a sensitive and specific method for detecting trochlear cartilage pathologies

PURPOSE

MRI is now the modality of choice for evaluating articular cartilage. Nevertheless, it has some general drawbacks. Some patients cannot undergo MRI, and in others US scan could be the first examination and cartilage should be evaluated. Ultrasound could be a useful method for detecting trochlear cartilage low-grade lesions. In this study, our goal was to evaluate the efficacy of ultrasonography in detecting these lesions.

METHODS

All patients referred to our hospital, from July 2018 to July 2019, who were arthroscopic candidates due to sport-related pathologies, underwent ultrasound scan 1 day prior to surgery. Ultrasound assessment was performed by an expert radiologist, with a 13-MHz probe, located transversely proximal to the patella in different degrees of knee flexion to assess trochlear lesion grade and thickness. Arthroscopic examination of all patients was performed by an experienced orthopedic knee surgeon (second author). Sensitivity and specificity of ultrasound were calculated.

RESULTS

A total of 48 patients were involved in the study with a mean age of 33.2 years (SD: 9.7), between 19 and 51 years of age. Patients were 81% male (39 patients). The sensitivity of ultrasound in grading of trochlear cartilage lesion was 100%, meanwhile its specificity was 88.2% (30 cases had normal cartilage while this figure was 34 in arthroscopy).

CONCLUSION

Sonography is a low-cost, accessible diagnostic tool with high sensitivity and specificity for early detection of trochlear cartilage pathologies. It can play an important role as an outpatient diagnostic workup in patients with anterior knee pain.

Ultrasound of iliotibial band syndrome

Iliotibial band syndrome or friction syndrome is an overuse disorder of the lateral knee. It is commonly reported in athletes, such as runners and cyclists, and refers to pain related to physical activity. The diagnosis is based on clinical history and physical assessment. Imaging, including ultrasound, is mainly performed in recurrent or refractory cases. The purpose of this paper is to review the etiology, diagnosis, and therapy of iliotibial band syndrome with a focus on ultrasound imaging and ultrasound-guided treatment. Ultrasound findings include soft-tissue edematous swelling or discrete fluid collection, suggestive of bursitis, between the iliotibial band and the lateral femoral epicondyle. The thickening of the iliotibial band has been inconsistently reported. Treatment varies according to the disease phase and, in the acute phase, consists of rest, physical therapy, and anti-inflammatory medications. Ultrasound-guided local steroid injections are effective in relieving symptoms.

Post-operative MRI and US appearance of the Achilles tendons

The Achilles tendon is one of the most commonly ruptured tendons in the human body. Minimally invasive and open surgical repairs are commonly undertaken to manage acute Achilles ruptures. This article describes the postoperative imaging findings and their evolution after surgery. Ultrasound and magnetic resonance imaging provide crucial information regarding the morphology, structure, vascularization and mobility of the Achilles tendon on the surrounding planes. Morphologically, a repaired tendon is physiologically larger and wider than an intact one, with a loss of its fibrillary structure; the presence of surgical material in the context of the tendon is normal after the rupture has been repaired. After surgery, the tendon is more vascularized in power-Doppler imaging. Elastography and diffusion tensor Imaging are innovative tools which allow for the visualization of microstructural abnormalities not apprehensible using conventional imaging techniques. A treated Achilles tendon is unlikely to regain a normal imaging appearance, and the health care professional must distinguish between postoperative findings and actual pathological features. In this context, clinical examination still reigns supreme.