Neuromusculoskeletal Ultrasound (NMSKUS) is an imaging technique that is used for diagnosing patients with muscle or nerve disorders. It is a noninvasive and painless technique that utilizes no ionizing radiation, but uses sound waves to produce detailed images of muscles, nerves, tendons, ligament, bones and joints.
During the NMSKUS your provider will use a handheld scanning device called a transducer, which is pressed against the skin. The transducer emits inaudible, high-pitched sounds waves that travel through the body. Denser structures such as bone will reflect the sound waves back, while less dense, more liquid structures allow some or all of the sound waves to pass through. NMSKUS can visualize muscle texture alterations indicated dystrophy or denervation, changes in size and anatomic continuity of nerve fascicles, and its dynamic imaging capabilities allow capturing contractions and fasciculations.
