Real-Time Imaging While You Move
Unlike MRI or X-ray, which only take still pictures, ultrasound shows your shoulder:
• As you lift, rotate, reach, or throw
• While tendons glide and slide under the acromion
• When structures impinge, snap, or subluxation
• With live video, so we can correlate exactly where it hurts with what we see
This means we’re not guessing. We’re watching the problem happen in real time.
Exceptional Detail of the Rotator Cuff and Tendons
Most shoulder pain comes from problems in the soft tissues – especially the rotator cuff and biceps tendon. Ultrasound is outstanding for:
• Detecting partial and full-thickness rotator cuff tears
• Identifying tendinosis and overuse injuries
• Seeing biceps tendon instability (when it slips out of the groove)
• Finding tiny tears and subtle damage that static imaging can miss
• Visualizing calcific tendinitis with great clarity
Because we can move your arm during the scan, we see not just what is injured, but how it behaves when you use it.
We can see Instability and mechanical problems that MRI misses. Shoulder problems are positional and only show up when the joint is under stress. Ultrasound allows us to:
• Watch the biceps tendon slip or snap as you rotate your arm
• Assess AC joint gapping or instability dynamically
• Reproduce the positions that cause your pain and see what’s happening inside the joint
Static imaging can’t do this. Ultrasound shows motion, which is often where the real problem is.
Sensitive to Inflammation, Fluid, and Bursitis
Ultrasound is extremely sensitive to:
• Subacromial–subdeltoid bursitis
• Small joint effusions
• Inflamed tendons
• Early synovitis (inflammation of the joint lining)
Even very small amounts of fluid can be detected, helping us confirm the source of your pain and guide targeted treatment.
Precision-Guided Injections and Procedures
Because ultrasound shows every structure in real time, we can use it to guide:
• Subacromial bursa injections
• Biceps tendon sheath injections
• AC joint injections
• Glenohumeral joint injections
You see the screen; we see the needle enter the exact target. This improves accuracy, safety, and comfort, and helps maximize the effectiveness of treatment.
Fast, Safe, and Patient-Friendly
Shoulder ultrasound at MSK USA is:
• Radiation-free
• Non-invasive
• Comfortable (no tunnel, no loud machine, no injections just for imaging)
• Typically completed in about 15 minutes
• Performed with warm gel in an open, relaxed setting
Most importantly, you receive immediate feedback. We can often show and explain your findings on the spot.
Immediate Answers. Immediate Direction.
Our mission at ORTHOPEDIC ULTRASOUND, INC is simple:
Instant Diagnosis. Clear Direction. Real Relief.
With musculoskeletal ultrasound of the shoulder, you don’t wait for days for results. You get:
• A clear understanding of what’s causing your pain
• Real-time visual feedback as we scan
• A practical plan for what to do next
If you’re struggling with shoulder pain, stiffness, clicking, weakness, or loss of motion, MSK ultrasound can be the fastest, most accurate way to find out what’s really going on.
