Application of Ultrasound in Sports Injury

The ability to make correct ultrasonographic diagnosis in sports injuries is improving as advancing technology allows for high-resolution images in contemporary medical ultrasound. Ultrasonography demonstrates tissue structure with two-dimensional grayscale images. Blood flow in the tissue can be rapidly depicted with color and power Doppler technique. Furthermore, ultrasonography is the preferred imaging modality to study soft tissue lesions dynamically. With high-resolution images afforded by ultrasonography, injuries of the muscle, tendon, ligament, bursa, bony structure, cartilage, and subcutaneous tissue can be accurately diagnosed if the examiner is well trained. A panoramic view makes the ultrasonographic images better understood by the sports clinicians. The advanced technique of sonoelastography examination, which facilitates understanding of stiffness in the soft tissue, is also a potential tool in diagnosis of sports injuries. Recently, compact ultrasound machine machines are becoming increasingly available, leading to prompt ultrasonographic diagnosis of sports injuries on the field. In this brief review, we will discuss common sports injuries of these structures, their clinical implications, and ultrasound key points.