Diagnostic ultrasound is becoming increasingly available in the UK, with some Podiatrists now specialising in the imaging of the foot and ankle. It has huge benefits for patients suffering from foot and ankle pain. Having access to imaging like this has significantly changed the way Podiatrists understand your pain, and has lead to the use of more advanced treatment options such as Guided Steroid Injections. Over time by monitoring you through a series of scans we can also measure your progress following treatment interventions.
Podiatrist Mark Brooksbank at The Foot Clinic has trained as a sonographer, gaining CASE (Consortium for the Accreditation of Sonographic Education) accreditation. Colleague, Podiatrist Geoff Hyne is now also in the process of being mentored with a view to gaining this same qualification.
What does Diagnostic Ultrasound allow the practitioner to see?
It allows us to see soft tissues (such as tendons, muscle and ligaments) and also bones and joints. With specialist training we can view these structures and are able to identify what is a ‘normal’ finding and what is seen as pathological.
Above and to the right are images of a painless heel versus a painful heel and we can see changes on the scan of the affected side (right), with thickening of the tissues. This is in keeping with the condition ‘plantar fasciitis’, a common cause of heel pain.
Diagnostic ultrasound can also help us identify and diagnose issues such as Achilles tendinopathy, other tendinopathies, tears and ruptures of ligaments in the foot and ankle, and boney growths amongst other potential problems.
Here at The Foot Clinic we offer ultrasound imaging as part of a wider musculoskeletal assessment. If you have experienced persistent or recurring foot / ankle pain for do contact us, we are always pleased to talk to you, advise and if appropriate we will arrange an assessment for you.