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When foot or ankle pain persists, a more detailed view of the affected tissues can sometimes help clarify the next step. At Steps Podiatry & Gait in Inverness, diagnostic ultrasound forms part of our approach to specialist assessment and treatment planning.
What can ultrasound show?
Musculoskeletal ultrasound uses sound waves to produce images of soft tissues. Around the foot and ankle, these include tendons, ligaments, the plantar fascia and tissues around joints. Depending on the clinical question, a scan can help assess changes in tissue structure, fluid or a suspected soft tissue injury.
Because the images are produced in real time, selected structures can also be assessed during movement. This can be useful when the question concerns how a tendon moves or how symptoms relate to a particular position.
Start with the clinical question
Your history and examination guide which structures we assess and what we are looking for. For example, pain around the Achilles tendon raises a different question from pain under the heel or persistent discomfort following an ankle sprain.
During your appointment, we bring together where you feel pain, what provokes it, the examination findings and any relevant scan findings. That clinical context is central to explaining what the images mean for you.
How does it inform your treatment?
The purpose is to support a decision about your care. We discuss what the findings suggest and how they relate to the treatment plan, whether that involves rehabilitation, activity adjustment or another appropriate next step.
It is also an opportunity to connect the assessment with your goals: managing a working day, walking further or returning to training. The explanation should leave you clearer about the problem and what happens next.
Specialist foot and ankle ultrasound at Steps
Tim Greenwood is a Specialist Sports Podiatrist with a PgCert in MSK Foot & Ankle Ultrasound and a PgCert in Podiatric Sports Medicine. Ultrasound findings are considered within the wider foot and ankle assessment.
Explore diagnostic foot and ankle ultrasound in Inverness, or book a specialist foot and ankle assessment if you need an assessment of the problem first. If you are unsure which appointment fits your needs, contact the team.
Clinical reference: RadiologyInfo: musculoskeletal ultrasound.