This is the use of Diagnostic Ultrasound to image soft tissue as part of the Physiotherapy assessment, supporting the clinical diagnosis and enabling a succinct choice of rehabilitation to support the clinical findings.
Ultrasound is known to be real time imaging and can give an image there and then which can be discussed with the patient during the examination. In some cases we may ask the patient to move enabling the sonographer to identify tears or contusions which may have relevance to the pain and lack of tissue mobility .
It has been cited to be as accurate as MRI imaging but at Banbury Private Physiotherapy Practice we have links to MRI scanning at the Cobalt Unit in Cheltenham with Radiological reports necessary for secondary care/specialist review.
For more information on our diagnostic services and which scan may be best for you, or how it plays a part in your therapy program, contact Esther and we will organise a discussion with one of our specialist clinicians
Price £95.00 for an assessment and ultrasound scan
About Sam Bourgein
I am an Advanced Practice Physiotherapist, Musculoskeletal Sonographer, and Independent Prescriber. I work across the NHS in Radiology and Intermediate Musculoskeletal Services, and I am also the co-owner of The MOVE Clinic in Oxford and Thame, working closely in conjunction with Banbury Physiotherapy. Our website is www.themoveclinic.co.uk.
We are now seeing a growing number of patients attending the clinic for diagnostic ultrasound assessments, with consistently high-quality and appropriate referrals coming through. This service is designed to complement, not replace, therapist-led care and to help move patients forward when progress has plateaued or symptoms are unclear.
How this service benefits patients
The diagnostic and injection clinic can add value in several key ways:
- Improved diagnostic clarity, allowing rehabilitation to be more targeted and confidence-based
- Earlier identification of treatable pathology, particularly in persistent or post-traumatic cases
- Pain modulation when symptoms are limiting rehab, enabling patients to engage more fully with physiotherapy
- Avoidance or delay of surgical referral through effective non-operative management
- A joined-up approach, where imaging findings directly inform your rehabilitation plans rather than sitting in isolation
Diagnostic ultrasound can be particularly helpful for:
- Acute or traumatic presentations not progressing as expected
- Persistent pain despite appropriate physiotherapy or shockwave
- Patients seeking diagnostic reassurance or a second opinion
- Complex or mixed presentations where structure may be influencing symptoms
What we offer in clinic
- Diagnostic musculoskeletal ultrasound
(Please book double appointments if more than one area requires assessment) - Ultrasound-guided fenestration for chronic tendinopathies recalcitrant to physiotherapy and shockwave
- Ultrasound-guided aspiration for significant joint effusions
- Ultrasound-guided corticosteroid, hyaluronate, and Arthrosamid injections when pain is limiting rehabilitation or significantly impacting daily function
We also provide hyaluronate injections for patients with mild to moderate osteoarthritis of the feet, ankles, knees, hips, shoulders, and first CMC joints. These are well tolerated, repeatable, and can be used strategically to support an ongoing rehabilitation programme when conservative measures alone are no longer sufficient.
In addition, we offer Arthrosamid® injections for patients with knee osteoarthritis who are seeking a longer-term, non-surgical management option. This is currently specific to knee OA and is particularly effective in mild to moderate cases, with good success rates.
At our Oxford clinic, we also offer platelet-rich plasma (PRP) injections using the Arthrex system. This is a premium sports-medicine platform and is available for patients with recalcitrant tendinopathy and selected cases of osteoarthritis who are seeking longer-lasting pain relief.
If you are a Clinician reading this:
You might consider referring patients who:
- Are stuck in rehabilitation due to pain rather than strength or capacity
- Have persistent symptoms beyond expected timeframes
- Have had limited response to physiotherapy or shockwave
- Would benefit from diagnostic clarity to guide loading or return-to-sport decisions
- Are keen to explore non-surgical options for osteoarthritis
If you are a client and wish to know more please feel free to contact me directly via my ultrasound email at [email protected]
We are always happy to help and advise in the first instance
