Diagnostic Musculoskeletal (MSK) ultrasound scans are available here at The Hanham Clinic.

Diagnostic ultrasound scans can be used to diagnose a range of shoulder, elbow, wrist, knee, foot/ankle and soft tissue conditions.

The types of problems that can be assessed on a diagnostic MSK ultrasound scan are:

• Shoulder Injuries (involving the rotator cuff and shoulder impingement)
• Injuries to the AC joint (of the shoulder)
• Achilles tendon injuries
• Plantar fasciitis (in the sole of the foot)
• Knee pain (including “jumper’s” and “runner’s knee”)
• Osgood-schlatters disease
• Tendon problems (tendon tears, tendonitis, tendinitis and tendinosis)
• Muscle strains and tears
• Bursitis
• Fluid or swelling surrounding a joint

Do I need a referral to have a scan?

Although many people receive a diagnostic scan following a referral from another healthcare practitioner, you do not need a referral and can in fact self-refer for a scan, by visiting our booking page.

If you have self-referred, we will call you prior to your appointment to confirm that a diagnostic ultrasound scan is an appropriate course of action based upon your symptoms.

What is the cost of an ultrasound scan?

The cost of a private ultrasound scan at our clinic in Bristol is £115. This includes a written ultrasound report that will be provided following your scan, that will also be sent to your referrer.

Is it safe to receive a diagnostic ultrasound scan?

Ultrasound scans are extremely safe to receive and there have been no harmful effects documented when used in a diagnostic setting when scanning MSK (musculoskeletal) complaints.

There is no radiation emitted from an ultrasound scan; ultrasound scanners emit sound waves into the body at varying frequencies- and the speeds at which these signals return to the machine are interpreted to form a diagnostic image.

How accurate is a diagnostic ultrasound scan at diagnosing muscle, tendon and ligament injuries?

Modern ultrasound machine are able to form an extremely detailed image that is used to make a diagnosis. For some conditions, diagnostic ultrasound has been shown to be more useful than MRI imaging, although not all conditions are best imaged using ultrasound.

Ultrasound is often selected partly due to the relatively lower wait times and lesser cost, whilst being portable.

How long does it take to get an appointment?

We are usually able to provide an appointment for an ultrasound scan within one week. You can view our availability for a diagnostic MSK ultrasound scan by visiting our booking page and selecting the appropriate service from the drop down menu.

Who will carry out my MSK ultrasound scan?

Our in-house scans are currently carried out by either Monika Dobrowolska, or Dean Matthews who are both dually qualified as Chiropractors and as Diagnostic MSK Sonographers, following further post-graduate Masters level training in Diagnostic MSK ultrasound at University level.