Common Tendon and Muscle Injuries: Lower Extremity

The lower extremity is well suited to sonographic evaluation because the muscles and tendons are large and superficial and thus easily shown. Sonography is a focused examination, concentrating on the area of pain and clinical suspicion. Its advantages over MR imaging are better spatial resolution, capability of dynamic evaluation, and real-time guidance for percutaneous procedures. In addition, the advent of extended field of view imaging allows the entire length or cross-section of an area of interest to be shown, matching MR imaging's ability to display a large anatomic region. This article reviews the sonographic appearances of disorders of the muscles and tendons of the lower extremity.