דיקור יבש תחת שיקוף

Since 2018, I have been approved to use diagnostic ultrasound from the UK; since then, I have used this technology daily to evaluate MSK pathologies and occasionally in treatment, using dry needling technique assisted by ultrasound imaging.

Lumsden et al. (2018) investigated patients' emotions who had ultrasound imaging and diagnostics performed by physiotherapists in shoulder issues.

The study included 103 subjects who were asked to complete questionnaires as part of treatment sessions of MSK shoulder problems over six months.

The subjects were asked to evaluate the imaging's benefits. On whether they have a better understanding of the pathology from which they suffer, 97 percent of patients strongly agreed or agreed. In terms of managing their problem, 89 percent of patients strongly agreed or agreed that they felt more capable of doing so. In general, 96 percent of patients thought the ultrasound imaging scan was very valuable/crucial for improving treatment effectiveness.

The study's findings concluded that using diagnostic ultrasound in shoulder pathologies helps patients understand the problem, improve management and strength to handle the process.

Pathologies originating from the MSK are complicated; today's mass information available on the internet is disadvantaged and does not promote the education and management of patients suffering from the phenomenon. Using ultrasound imaging to aid in real-time diagnosis is highly beneficial in terms of feedback; additionally, imaging aids in shaping the treatment plan and providing an immediate prognosis.

Shoulder pathologies are an excellent example: the damaged shoulder can be compared to the other side for explanations. The joint can be passively or actively moved while imaging and observing the movement of tendons and muscles. A reassessment can be performed (which is especially important in muscle injuries in clinical sports medicine).

Aside from the applications described, we also perform dry needling under imaging at specific points in my clinic, such as deep muscles, the anterior neck, and the thorax. The use of dry needling ultrasound allows for more freedom of movement with the needles and significantly improves results. From my experience, this tool has the most significant impact on any other area in my toolbox. I hope to pursue further research in this area in the future.

References:

Lumsden, G., Lucas-Garner, K., Sutherland, S., & Dodenhoff, R. (2018). Physiotherapists utilizing diagnostic ultrasound in shoulder clinics. How useful do patients find immediate feedback from the scan as part of the management of their problem? Musculoskeletal Care, 16(1), 209–213. https://doi.org/10.1002/msc.1213