Ultrasound Guided Injection Therapy

What You Need To Know

Learn how ultrasound guided injections improve precision, safety, and treatment outcomes.

Ultrasound Guided Injection Therapy

Diagnostic ultrasound is utilized today to provide doctors with the ability to see where the injection is going to ensure that the medication is delivered directly to the exact spot of necessity. We all realize that receiving an injection is sometimes necessary to treat specific injuries or conditions. Having the medication delivered directly to the exact location ensures that the medication can provide the best result.

Having the ability to see where the injection is going provides a better outcome, and the doctor is able to precisely deliver the medication exactly where it must go. By delivering the medication directly where it is needed, we avoid damaging surrounding tissue or placing the medication in areas where it will be less effective.

Diagnostic ultrasound use was first reported in 1958 as a reliable method to evaluate musculoskeletal structures. Since that time, its use has become increasingly popular in the medical world. Today, physicians use ultrasound technology to clearly visualize soft-tissue structures for pending treatment. The tissue that is most commonly viewed includes tendons, ligaments, and muscle. There are also instances where arteries and nerves are viewed.

If you have an injury or condition that may benefit from injection therapy, the doctors at Bay Area Foot Care frequently use diagnostic ultrasound to deliver the safest, most effective, and most comfortable treatment possible. Schedule an evaluation to learn whether this approach is right for you.

Platelet-Rich Plasma (PRP) Therapy

Platelets are a blood component often associated with clotting. However, they also play an important role in recovery, secreting proteins that stimulate cell growth. PRP is exactly what the name implies, plasma with more than the usual concentration of platelets. The idea is that more platelets will induce more healing. PRP can have five to ten times as many platelets as normal plasma, so that’s potentially a lot of healing power.

To create PRP, clinicians first draw a little blood. From there, they use a centrifuge to separate the platelets from other blood components. This concentrated PRP is then applied to the specific area that needs healing. PRP is often injected into the injury itself to reduce inflammation and promote healing. Though effective, PRP is not instantaneous. It often takes several weeks for patients to feel the benefits.

PRP can be valuable to help repair a number of different types of injuries. Professional athletes often use it to treat injured muscles and ligaments. It can also be used for chronic tendon injuries. For those who may be suffering from arthritis, PRP may offer a non-invasive way to reduce pain and increase function.

In addition, PRP can be used to help patients heal following surgery. In this case, a PRP preparation is used to treat the injured area during the procedure. While PRP is not a magic bullet, it is rapidly becoming a useful tool to help patients overcome musculoskeletal injuries, often supporting healing without surgery and providing a gentler path back to activity.