Real Time Ultrasound

Here at Peninsula Women’s Physio, we offer Real Time Ultrasound imaging as an enhancement to our other assessment techniques.

Real Time Ultrasound is a safe and non-invasive way see the internal soft tissues of the body. Some areas we can look at include the deep core muscles, your pelvic floor and bladder. It also enables us to measure your abdominal separation if you have one. It provides real time visual feedback on the way your muscles and tissues are moving. It can be a great addition to your physio program.

We can also observe and measure your bladder using RTUS. We can measure the volume of urine in the bladder and check that the bladder is emptying correctly. It is a helpful tool for adding more pieces to the puzzle to figure out the root cause of your symptoms.

Being able to see movement of muscles that are internal and not usually able to be seen on a “screen” increases the brains ability to learn a new movement or develop a new cue to move. The brain receives information that the movement is correct, and this strengthens the motor pathways.

RTUS is also a great alternative for those who cannot have a pelvic floor examination for several reasons. Some of these include:

-       High risk pregnancy

-       Vaginal infection

-       Personal preference

-       AMAB patient

Although RTUS doesn’t replace the need for an internal pelvic floor examination, in many cases it is certainly the next best thing. What we can’t gain from looking at movement on a screen is information about your muscle tone or muscle strength.

Ask your Physiotherapist at your next appointment if real time ultrasound might be a good option for you.