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Guest LectureRehabilitative ultrasound imaging: Technology to improve assessment and treatment of those with musculoskeletal conditionsDeydre Teyhen, PT, PhD, OCSOver the past decade, researchers have identified associations between neuromusculoskeletal disorders such as low back pain and underlying neuromuscular control deficits.2 However, reliable and valid non-invasive measurement strategies that could be employed in a clinical setting have been scarce. Evidence for the use of ultrasound imaging as a strategy to assist with these patient populations is growing. The use of ultrasound technology for medical applications began in the 1950s and it has proven to be an effective, safe, and relatively inexpensive tool for assessing morphologic characteristics and structural integrity of visceral organs and soft tissues. Specifically related to physical therapy practice, the use of ultrasound to assess muscle morphology and guide rehabilitation decision-making can be traced back to the late 1960s.6 Over the last decade there has been rapid development of this technique, with reliable and valid non-invasive measurement procedures that can be employed in a clinical setting. The use of ultrasound imaging in the rehabilitation of neuromusculoskeletal disorders has been coined “rehabilitative ultrasound imaging” (RUSI). RUSI has been defined as “a procedure used by physical therapists to evaluate muscle and related soft tissue morphology and function during exercise and physical tasks…and is used to assist in the application of therapeutic interventions aimed at improving neuromuscular function.”4 RUSI has been advocated to improve the understanding of the relationship between motor control and function, determine which patients may benefit from a specific exercise treatment approach, enhance treatment efficacy via augmented feedback, and document the benefits of specific exercise treatment approaches. Early RUSI research has been promising. This presentation will provide an overview of how RUSI has been applied in both clinical and research settings to assess underlying muscular dysfunction and exercise prescription for the abdominal wall,5 posterior spine,3 and pelvic floor,7 and the potential of RUSI as a biofeedback tool to help with rehabilitation.1 References
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