Musculoskeletal (MSK) Ultrasound in Toronto
Our clinic provides musculoskeletal ultrasound (MSK ultrasound) in Toronto for joints, muscles, tendons and ligaments. This type of ultrasound is particularly useful for sports injuries, soft-tissue pain and suspected tendon or ligament tears.
What is musculoskeletal ultrasound?
- Muscles
- Tendons
- Ligaments
- Joints
- Bursa and surrounding soft tissues
Your doctor may request MSK ultrasound to:
- Investigate shoulder, elbow, wrist, hip, knee, ankle or foot pain
- Evaluate suspected tendon tears (for example, rotator cuff or Achilles tendon)
- Look for fluid, inflammation or bursitis
- Assess soft-tissue lumps or areas of swelling
Areas we commonly scan
We perform MSK ultrasound of many regions, including:
- Shoulder (rotator cuff, biceps tendon)
- Elbow and forearm
- Wrist and hand, including carpal tunnel region
- Hip and hip joint
- Thigh and hamstring
- Knee and surrounding tendons
- Calf, ankle and foot
- Achilles tendon and plantar fascia
How to prepare for MSK ultrasound
In most cases, no special preparation is needed for musculoskeletal ultrasound. You can eat, drink and take your medications as usual, unless your doctor gives other instructions.
We recommend:
- Wearing loose, comfortable clothing that allows easy access to the area being scanned
- Bringing any relevant previous imaging reports (X-ray, MRI) if you have them
What to expect during MSK ultrasound
- You will be positioned so the area of concern is exposed and comfortable.
- Gel is applied to the skin and the sonographer moves the transducer over the area.
- You may be asked to move or gently stress the joint or tendon while images are obtained. This dynamic scanning is a major advantage of MSK ultrasound.
Most exams take 15–30 minutes, depending on the region and complexity.